4 june 2001
In the aftermath of a fire exchange with a number of Palestinian militants, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the border with Egypt south of Rafah, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Block “J” area in Rafah refugee camp. As a result, 22 Palestinians, mostly civilians, were wounded while fleeing their houses.
They were all evacuated to Martyr Mohammed Yousef Al-Najjar (Al-Joneina) hospital in Rafah, where medical sources stated that a number of them were in a serious condition. Among the wounded was Hamed Subhi El-Hams, 42, from Rafah, an UNRWA ambulance driver, who was wounded with shrapnel in the right hand while he was offering help to the wounded. Additionally, the windows of the ambulance shattered when the vehicle was hit by live bullets. The other wounded were:
1) Khaled Zahran El-Tantawi, 19, wounded with a live bullet in the head and evacuated to the intensive care unit at Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City;
2) Mohammed ‘Abdel-Rahman El-Kurdi, 18, seriously wounded with a live bullet in the right shoulder and evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City;
3) Murid Salem El-Akhras, 19, wounded with a live bullet in the right shoulder and the chest and evacuated to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis and then to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City;
4) Ramzi ‘Ali ‘Aashour, 22, wounded with shrapnel in the head and the chest;
5) Ahmed Ismail El-Faramawi, 20, wounded with a live bullet in the buttocks;
6) Shadi ‘Omar ‘Awaja, 19, wounded with shrapnel in the back;
7) As’ad Suleiman Sh’at, 26, wounded with a live bullet in the left leg;
8) ‘Abdel-Majid Fayez Rashwan, 25, wounded with shrapnel in the left eye;
9) Shadi ‘Ali El-Wawi, 17, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh;
10) Biha’ El-Din Sadeq El-Khatib, 21, wounded with shrapnel in the right elbow;
11) Rajab Mohammed Bureika, 16, wounded with shrapnel in the chest;
12) Ra’ed ‘Atteya Barhoum, 17, wounded with shrapnel in the chest;
13) Hamada ‘Abdel-Fattah Abu Shawish, 17, wounded with shrapnel in the face;
14) Eyad Mahmoud Abu Zuhri, 24, wounded with shrapnel that which severed an artery in the right thigh, and was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City;
15) Mohammed Jaber Abu Jazar, 16, wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen;
16) Ziad Mohammed El-‘Aaloul, 20, wounded with a live bullet in the left leg;
17) ‘Odai Fadel Barhoum, 12, wounded with a live bullet in the right shoulder;
18) kamel Ahmed Abu ‘Eiadeh, 15, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh;
19) ‘Abdel-Wadoud ‘Awadh Barbakh, 35, wounded with a live bullet in the right hand;
20) Rateb Hamed Siam, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the left thigh; and
21) Mahmoud Khalil Sa’d, 19, wounded with shrapnel in the right arm.
PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that a number of houses in Rafah refugee camp were severely damaged and that an artillery shell hit a store of foodstuffs owned by ‘Aayesh Mohammed Ahmed Abu Taha.
At approximately 21:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at ‘Eibal Mount to the north of Nablus, fired an artillery shell at ‘Assira village to the north of the city.
One shell hit the house of Jamil Daoud Jawabreh El-Shouli, which had been recently rented by the Fatah Movement. The house was completely destroyed.
A nearby house, in which 24 people lived, was also severely damaged. PCHR learnt that the area did had not witnessed any clashes prior to the attack. It was also stated that members of the Fatah Movement had been due to hold a meeting in the house approximately 15 minutes later.
Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians
In the morning, settlers opened fire on a Palestinian truck that was traveling on a bypass road in Ramallah. The driver lost control of the truck, and it collided with an electricity pylon and overturned.
Three brothers were traveling by the truck, two of them, ‘Aayed Mahmoud Mohammed Abu ‘Eideh, 37, and Ziad Mahmoud Mohammed Abu ‘Eideh, 30, were killed and the third, Zeidan, 28, was seriously injured.
In his testimony to the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment (LAW), Zeidan Abu ‘Eideh siad that at approximately 05:00 (local time), he and his two brothers left their house in Deir Dibwan village in a truck which he drove. When they arrived at agricultural lands at Sheikh ‘Ammar road to the east of Ramallah, Israeli occupation forces prevented them from passing. So, they decided to resort to a bypass road between “Ofra” settlement and Jerusalem.
When they arrived at the junction of Burqa village, which leads to “Beit Eil” settlement, a number of Israeli occupation soldiers were positioned at a military roadblock there. There were also a number of settlers were standing at the side of the road. The settlers opened fire on the truck, and it collided with an electricity tower and turned up side down. Bothers, ‘Aayed, father of 8 children, and Ziad, father of 7 children, were killed instantly, while Ziad, father of a 6-month-old infant, was seriously injured.
Immediately, the Israeli occupation forces towed the truck away and kept it in “Beit Eil” .
At approximately 09:00 local time, a number of armed settlers raided the headquarters of the Palestinian Ministry of Religious Endowments in Hebron. They occupied it, destroying furniture and terrifying its employees. The Israeli occupation forces made no attempt to intervene.
In the aftermath of a fire exchange with a number of Palestinian militants, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the border with Egypt south of Rafah, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Block “J” area in Rafah refugee camp. As a result, 22 Palestinians, mostly civilians, were wounded while fleeing their houses.
They were all evacuated to Martyr Mohammed Yousef Al-Najjar (Al-Joneina) hospital in Rafah, where medical sources stated that a number of them were in a serious condition. Among the wounded was Hamed Subhi El-Hams, 42, from Rafah, an UNRWA ambulance driver, who was wounded with shrapnel in the right hand while he was offering help to the wounded. Additionally, the windows of the ambulance shattered when the vehicle was hit by live bullets. The other wounded were:
1) Khaled Zahran El-Tantawi, 19, wounded with a live bullet in the head and evacuated to the intensive care unit at Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City;
2) Mohammed ‘Abdel-Rahman El-Kurdi, 18, seriously wounded with a live bullet in the right shoulder and evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City;
3) Murid Salem El-Akhras, 19, wounded with a live bullet in the right shoulder and the chest and evacuated to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis and then to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City;
4) Ramzi ‘Ali ‘Aashour, 22, wounded with shrapnel in the head and the chest;
5) Ahmed Ismail El-Faramawi, 20, wounded with a live bullet in the buttocks;
6) Shadi ‘Omar ‘Awaja, 19, wounded with shrapnel in the back;
7) As’ad Suleiman Sh’at, 26, wounded with a live bullet in the left leg;
8) ‘Abdel-Majid Fayez Rashwan, 25, wounded with shrapnel in the left eye;
9) Shadi ‘Ali El-Wawi, 17, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh;
10) Biha’ El-Din Sadeq El-Khatib, 21, wounded with shrapnel in the right elbow;
11) Rajab Mohammed Bureika, 16, wounded with shrapnel in the chest;
12) Ra’ed ‘Atteya Barhoum, 17, wounded with shrapnel in the chest;
13) Hamada ‘Abdel-Fattah Abu Shawish, 17, wounded with shrapnel in the face;
14) Eyad Mahmoud Abu Zuhri, 24, wounded with shrapnel that which severed an artery in the right thigh, and was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City;
15) Mohammed Jaber Abu Jazar, 16, wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen;
16) Ziad Mohammed El-‘Aaloul, 20, wounded with a live bullet in the left leg;
17) ‘Odai Fadel Barhoum, 12, wounded with a live bullet in the right shoulder;
18) kamel Ahmed Abu ‘Eiadeh, 15, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh;
19) ‘Abdel-Wadoud ‘Awadh Barbakh, 35, wounded with a live bullet in the right hand;
20) Rateb Hamed Siam, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the left thigh; and
21) Mahmoud Khalil Sa’d, 19, wounded with shrapnel in the right arm.
PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that a number of houses in Rafah refugee camp were severely damaged and that an artillery shell hit a store of foodstuffs owned by ‘Aayesh Mohammed Ahmed Abu Taha.
At approximately 21:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at ‘Eibal Mount to the north of Nablus, fired an artillery shell at ‘Assira village to the north of the city.
One shell hit the house of Jamil Daoud Jawabreh El-Shouli, which had been recently rented by the Fatah Movement. The house was completely destroyed.
A nearby house, in which 24 people lived, was also severely damaged. PCHR learnt that the area did had not witnessed any clashes prior to the attack. It was also stated that members of the Fatah Movement had been due to hold a meeting in the house approximately 15 minutes later.
Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians
In the morning, settlers opened fire on a Palestinian truck that was traveling on a bypass road in Ramallah. The driver lost control of the truck, and it collided with an electricity pylon and overturned.
Three brothers were traveling by the truck, two of them, ‘Aayed Mahmoud Mohammed Abu ‘Eideh, 37, and Ziad Mahmoud Mohammed Abu ‘Eideh, 30, were killed and the third, Zeidan, 28, was seriously injured.
In his testimony to the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment (LAW), Zeidan Abu ‘Eideh siad that at approximately 05:00 (local time), he and his two brothers left their house in Deir Dibwan village in a truck which he drove. When they arrived at agricultural lands at Sheikh ‘Ammar road to the east of Ramallah, Israeli occupation forces prevented them from passing. So, they decided to resort to a bypass road between “Ofra” settlement and Jerusalem.
When they arrived at the junction of Burqa village, which leads to “Beit Eil” settlement, a number of Israeli occupation soldiers were positioned at a military roadblock there. There were also a number of settlers were standing at the side of the road. The settlers opened fire on the truck, and it collided with an electricity tower and turned up side down. Bothers, ‘Aayed, father of 8 children, and Ziad, father of 7 children, were killed instantly, while Ziad, father of a 6-month-old infant, was seriously injured.
Immediately, the Israeli occupation forces towed the truck away and kept it in “Beit Eil” .
At approximately 09:00 local time, a number of armed settlers raided the headquarters of the Palestinian Ministry of Religious Endowments in Hebron. They occupied it, destroying furniture and terrifying its employees. The Israeli occupation forces made no attempt to intervene.
2 june 2001
At approximately 6:45 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire on a number of Palestinian civilians who were attempting to cross a roadblock established by the Israeli forces at the southern entrance to Surda village near Ramallah. Two were wounded as follows:
1) ‘Alla’ ‘Abdel-‘Azziz Mohye El-Din El-Khatib, 26, from Al-Jalazoun refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet in the left knee; and
2) Ibrahim Hassan ‘Abdullah El-Asmar, 60, also from Al-Jalazoun refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh.
At approximately 01:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in Al-Zababdeh military site “Bezeq,” fired three artillery shells at a site of the Palestinian presidential guard (Force 17) located at the western entrance to Qabatya village in Jenin, approximately 900m away. Then, a unit of the Israeli occupation forces raided the site and entered approximately 50m inside areas under the full control of the Palestinian National Authority, firing indiscriminately at Palestinian houses.
Fadi El-Kilani, 25, from Ya’bad village, a member of Force 17, sustained shrapnel injuries to the head.
At approximately 23:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned 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 and farms in Al-Satar Al-Gharbi area in the northwest of Khan Yunis, to the east of the aforementioned settlement. Such shelling sporadically lasted for one hour and damaged a number of farms and two under-construction houses.
At approximately 6:45 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire on a number of Palestinian civilians who were attempting to cross a roadblock established by the Israeli forces at the southern entrance to Surda village near Ramallah. Two were wounded as follows:
1) ‘Alla’ ‘Abdel-‘Azziz Mohye El-Din El-Khatib, 26, from Al-Jalazoun refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet in the left knee; and
2) Ibrahim Hassan ‘Abdullah El-Asmar, 60, also from Al-Jalazoun refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh.
At approximately 01:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in Al-Zababdeh military site “Bezeq,” fired three artillery shells at a site of the Palestinian presidential guard (Force 17) located at the western entrance to Qabatya village in Jenin, approximately 900m away. Then, a unit of the Israeli occupation forces raided the site and entered approximately 50m inside areas under the full control of the Palestinian National Authority, firing indiscriminately at Palestinian houses.
Fadi El-Kilani, 25, from Ya’bad village, a member of Force 17, sustained shrapnel injuries to the head.
At approximately 23:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned 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 and farms in Al-Satar Al-Gharbi area in the northwest of Khan Yunis, to the east of the aforementioned settlement. Such shelling sporadically lasted for one hour and damaged a number of farms and two under-construction houses.
1 june 2001
After Friday prayers, a number of Palestinian young men and children demonstrated at Al-Mentar area to the east of Gaza City. Clashes erupted between them and Israeli occupation forces positioned at the entrance of a settlement road leading to the Green Line. The clashes lasted until approximately 18:00 local time. Israeli soldiers fired at demonstrators from a distance of more than 150m. Four demonstrators were wounded.
One of the wounded stated that he had not heard the shot that hit him, thereby indicating that the Israeli forces may have used guns fitted with silencers. According to PCHR’s investigation, the demonstrators had not posed a threat to the lives of the soldiers and the soldiers had not employed any less lethal means to disperse the demonstrators before resorting directly to the use of tear gas and live fire. The wounded were:
1) Bassem Ramadan ‘Aabed, 17, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood, seriously wounded by a live bullet that entered the chest and settled in the kidney;
2) Mohammed Mousa Jundia, 13, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood, wounded in the pelvis by a live bullet;
3) Hussam Hassan El-Helu, 27, from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, wounded in the left thigh by a live bullet; and
4) Mustafa Hassan El-Kurd, 17, from Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg.
At approximately 13:00 local time, Palestinian civilians in Deir Estia village near Salfit organized a peaceful demonstration in cooperation with Israeli peace groups, in protest at Israeli aggression against their village. When the demonstrators arrived at the western entrance to the village, troops of the Israeli occupation forces were already assembled ready to disperse the demonstration by force. Initially the soldiers fired tear gas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets.
In reaction a number of demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli soldiers who then opened fire, seriously wounding Mohammed Ismail Yousef El-Khatib, 18, with a live bullet that entered the abdomen and settled in the spinal column.
PCHR learnt that the Israeli forces obstructed the evacuation of El-Khatib for one hour. After one hour, the Israeli forces withdrew from the area and people were able to evacuate El-Khatib to Al-Ittihad hospital in Nablus.
In the afternoon, after settlers roistered in the occupied part of Hebron, clashes erupted between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli occupation forces at Al-Karantina Street. Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets indiscriminately.
Iman Mousa Abu ‘Ajamia, 22, was wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right shoulder, and Ussama Ahmed Wazwaz, 44, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the hand.
Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians
At approximately midnight, a settler fired at Mazen Lutfi El-Joulani, 34, from Shoufat refugee camp in Jerusalem, a father of three children, wounding him with a live bullet in the head. El-Joulani was sitting in front of a café in Shoufat refugee camp when a settler fired at him. The settler was seen escaping in his car to “Pisgat Z’eiv” settlement, approximately 300m away from the incident.
El-Joulani was taken to the Israeli Hadassa hospital where he was pronounced dead on Sunday, June 3, 2001. His family gave permission for his organs to be donated to save five patients, without any discrimination on grounds of nationality or religion. According to Reuters, El-Joulani’s heart was transplanted to an Israeli citizen, Yigal Cohen.
In the afternoon, settlers from “Metsiv Shilo” established on Palestinian land in Jaloud village to the southeast of Nablus, set fire to Palestinian farms. Approximately 150 donums of agricultural land, owned by Fawzi Ibrahim El-Hajj ‘Abed, was destroyed.
Settlers from “Ged’oun” settlement to the southeast of Nablus also set fire to Palestinian land in Beit Fourik village. Approximately 45 donums of Palestinian agricultural land planted with olives was destroyed. Fire spread to areas close to the aforementioned settlement. Israeli fire engines hastened to the area to put out the fire next to the settlement without paying any attention to Palestinian areas.
Settlers also prevented Palestinians from putting out fires that destroyed their land.
After Friday prayers, a number of Palestinian young men and children demonstrated at Al-Mentar area to the east of Gaza City. Clashes erupted between them and Israeli occupation forces positioned at the entrance of a settlement road leading to the Green Line. The clashes lasted until approximately 18:00 local time. Israeli soldiers fired at demonstrators from a distance of more than 150m. Four demonstrators were wounded.
One of the wounded stated that he had not heard the shot that hit him, thereby indicating that the Israeli forces may have used guns fitted with silencers. According to PCHR’s investigation, the demonstrators had not posed a threat to the lives of the soldiers and the soldiers had not employed any less lethal means to disperse the demonstrators before resorting directly to the use of tear gas and live fire. The wounded were:
1) Bassem Ramadan ‘Aabed, 17, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood, seriously wounded by a live bullet that entered the chest and settled in the kidney;
2) Mohammed Mousa Jundia, 13, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood, wounded in the pelvis by a live bullet;
3) Hussam Hassan El-Helu, 27, from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, wounded in the left thigh by a live bullet; and
4) Mustafa Hassan El-Kurd, 17, from Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg.
At approximately 13:00 local time, Palestinian civilians in Deir Estia village near Salfit organized a peaceful demonstration in cooperation with Israeli peace groups, in protest at Israeli aggression against their village. When the demonstrators arrived at the western entrance to the village, troops of the Israeli occupation forces were already assembled ready to disperse the demonstration by force. Initially the soldiers fired tear gas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets.
In reaction a number of demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli soldiers who then opened fire, seriously wounding Mohammed Ismail Yousef El-Khatib, 18, with a live bullet that entered the abdomen and settled in the spinal column.
PCHR learnt that the Israeli forces obstructed the evacuation of El-Khatib for one hour. After one hour, the Israeli forces withdrew from the area and people were able to evacuate El-Khatib to Al-Ittihad hospital in Nablus.
In the afternoon, after settlers roistered in the occupied part of Hebron, clashes erupted between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli occupation forces at Al-Karantina Street. Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets indiscriminately.
Iman Mousa Abu ‘Ajamia, 22, was wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right shoulder, and Ussama Ahmed Wazwaz, 44, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the hand.
Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians
At approximately midnight, a settler fired at Mazen Lutfi El-Joulani, 34, from Shoufat refugee camp in Jerusalem, a father of three children, wounding him with a live bullet in the head. El-Joulani was sitting in front of a café in Shoufat refugee camp when a settler fired at him. The settler was seen escaping in his car to “Pisgat Z’eiv” settlement, approximately 300m away from the incident.
El-Joulani was taken to the Israeli Hadassa hospital where he was pronounced dead on Sunday, June 3, 2001. His family gave permission for his organs to be donated to save five patients, without any discrimination on grounds of nationality or religion. According to Reuters, El-Joulani’s heart was transplanted to an Israeli citizen, Yigal Cohen.
In the afternoon, settlers from “Metsiv Shilo” established on Palestinian land in Jaloud village to the southeast of Nablus, set fire to Palestinian farms. Approximately 150 donums of agricultural land, owned by Fawzi Ibrahim El-Hajj ‘Abed, was destroyed.
Settlers from “Ged’oun” settlement to the southeast of Nablus also set fire to Palestinian land in Beit Fourik village. Approximately 45 donums of Palestinian agricultural land planted with olives was destroyed. Fire spread to areas close to the aforementioned settlement. Israeli fire engines hastened to the area to put out the fire next to the settlement without paying any attention to Palestinian areas.
Settlers also prevented Palestinians from putting out fires that destroyed their land.
31 may 2001
At approximately 18:30 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire on a number of Palestinian civilians in Hazma village to the east of Jerusalem.
A Palestinian civilian was killed and another was seriously wounded. According to eyewitnesses, an Israeli military jeep, with four Israeli soldier carrying M-16 guns standing nearby, was positioned at Hazma road leading to Jaba’ village in the north. When the soldiers saw a number of Palestinian boys approaching, they climbed into their jeep and opened fire on the youths without prior warning.
Ahmed Saleh Salem El-Khatib, 17, was killed by a live bullet in the head, and Mohammed Salem Mohammed Subeih, 17, was seriously wounded with a live bullet also in the head. El-Khatib continued to bleed for more than 15 minutes before people were able to evacuate him in a civilian car to the entrance of Qalandya refugee camp, where an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society was waiting.
A 10-year-old child, Khalil Na’im ‘Afaneh, was pronounced dead at Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City, from a serious injury he received more than one month ago. A massive explosion had occurred on Monday, April 30, 2001, in a house close to PCHR’s offices in ‘Omar Al-Mukhtar Street in Al-Remal neighborhood in Gaza City.
As a result of the blast, two Palestinian civilians were killed and three were injured, including the child ‘Afaneh who was passing by the area. The house was completely destroyed and PCHR’s offices were severely damaged.
Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians
At approximately 15:00 local time, settlers from “Eitamar” settlement to the east of Nablus threw stones at Palestinian civilians passing at a bypass road between Hawara military site, to the south of the city, and “Allon More’” settlement, to the east of the city. Rafiq Ahmed ‘Othman, 45, from Deir El-Hatab village near Nablus, was hit with a stone in the head cracking his skull and causing a hemorrhage in the cerebrum.
He was evacuated to a specialized hospital in Nablus. ‘Othman was travelling by taxi along the aforementioned bypass road after the Israeli occupation forces closed the main road between the cities of Ramallah and Nablus, when he was hit with a stone from a distance of approximately 10m.
Additionally, Ayman ‘Affif Salem Hanani, from Beit Dajan viallage near Nablus, was injured in the right shoulder and arm when the windscreen of his car was shattered by thrown stones.
At approximately 16:00 local time, settlers of “Shavi Shomron” settlement opened fire on a Palestinian civilian car that was traveling at Tulkarm-Nablus road, to the east of Deir Sharaf village.
Daoud Fares Yousef El-Hassan, 47, from Deir Sharaf village, was wounded with a live bullet in the right hand.
At approximately 18:30 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire on a number of Palestinian civilians in Hazma village to the east of Jerusalem.
A Palestinian civilian was killed and another was seriously wounded. According to eyewitnesses, an Israeli military jeep, with four Israeli soldier carrying M-16 guns standing nearby, was positioned at Hazma road leading to Jaba’ village in the north. When the soldiers saw a number of Palestinian boys approaching, they climbed into their jeep and opened fire on the youths without prior warning.
Ahmed Saleh Salem El-Khatib, 17, was killed by a live bullet in the head, and Mohammed Salem Mohammed Subeih, 17, was seriously wounded with a live bullet also in the head. El-Khatib continued to bleed for more than 15 minutes before people were able to evacuate him in a civilian car to the entrance of Qalandya refugee camp, where an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society was waiting.
A 10-year-old child, Khalil Na’im ‘Afaneh, was pronounced dead at Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City, from a serious injury he received more than one month ago. A massive explosion had occurred on Monday, April 30, 2001, in a house close to PCHR’s offices in ‘Omar Al-Mukhtar Street in Al-Remal neighborhood in Gaza City.
As a result of the blast, two Palestinian civilians were killed and three were injured, including the child ‘Afaneh who was passing by the area. The house was completely destroyed and PCHR’s offices were severely damaged.
Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians
At approximately 15:00 local time, settlers from “Eitamar” settlement to the east of Nablus threw stones at Palestinian civilians passing at a bypass road between Hawara military site, to the south of the city, and “Allon More’” settlement, to the east of the city. Rafiq Ahmed ‘Othman, 45, from Deir El-Hatab village near Nablus, was hit with a stone in the head cracking his skull and causing a hemorrhage in the cerebrum.
He was evacuated to a specialized hospital in Nablus. ‘Othman was travelling by taxi along the aforementioned bypass road after the Israeli occupation forces closed the main road between the cities of Ramallah and Nablus, when he was hit with a stone from a distance of approximately 10m.
Additionally, Ayman ‘Affif Salem Hanani, from Beit Dajan viallage near Nablus, was injured in the right shoulder and arm when the windscreen of his car was shattered by thrown stones.
At approximately 16:00 local time, settlers of “Shavi Shomron” settlement opened fire on a Palestinian civilian car that was traveling at Tulkarm-Nablus road, to the east of Deir Sharaf village.
Daoud Fares Yousef El-Hassan, 47, from Deir Sharaf village, was wounded with a live bullet in the right hand.
30 may 2001
At approximately 11:00 local time, Israeli occupation soldier in tanks passing at the border with Egypt to the south of Rafah, opened fire on Palestinian civilians and houses in Rafah refugee camp. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that such shooting was sudden when the area did not witness any clashes. Four Palestinian civilians, including 3 children were wounded as follows:
1) Rami ‘Othman Abu ‘Armaneh, 19, seriously wounded with two live bullets in the abdomen and the right shoulder;
2) ‘Abdel-Wahab Fathi ‘Abdel-Wahab, 12, wounded with shrapnel in the left leg;
3) ‘Attwa Yousef Abu Muhsin, 16, wounded with shrapnel in the left leg;
4) Adham Ibrahim Hamdan, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the left shoulder.
They were all evacuated to Al-Joneina hospital in Rafah for treatment.
At approximately 23:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at Kissufim crossing on the eastern border of the Gaza Strip to the east of Khan Yunis, shelled a site of the Palestinian National Security Forces, approximately 500m to the north of the crossing.
PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that the Israeli forces also fired flare shells, one of which fell on a tract of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Mohammed Salman Abu Sh’ar. An irrigation network was partially burnt.
At approximately 11:00 local time, Israeli occupation soldier in tanks passing at the border with Egypt to the south of Rafah, opened fire on Palestinian civilians and houses in Rafah refugee camp. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that such shooting was sudden when the area did not witness any clashes. Four Palestinian civilians, including 3 children were wounded as follows:
1) Rami ‘Othman Abu ‘Armaneh, 19, seriously wounded with two live bullets in the abdomen and the right shoulder;
2) ‘Abdel-Wahab Fathi ‘Abdel-Wahab, 12, wounded with shrapnel in the left leg;
3) ‘Attwa Yousef Abu Muhsin, 16, wounded with shrapnel in the left leg;
4) Adham Ibrahim Hamdan, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the left shoulder.
They were all evacuated to Al-Joneina hospital in Rafah for treatment.
At approximately 23:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at Kissufim crossing on the eastern border of the Gaza Strip to the east of Khan Yunis, shelled a site of the Palestinian National Security Forces, approximately 500m to the north of the crossing.
PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that the Israeli forces also fired flare shells, one of which fell on a tract of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Mohammed Salman Abu Sh’ar. An irrigation network was partially burnt.
29 may 2001
At approximately 9:30 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers fired tear gas canisters at Hazma Secondary School. Students at the school were sitting their final exams. The headmaster, Ref’at Mousa ‘Atta Abu El-Haj, 41, and a teacher, Fadi Khalil Mohammed Hassan, 27, suffered respiratory problems due to tear gas inhalation. Israeli soldiers obstructed their evacuation to a clinic in the village.
The same school was exposed to a similar attack by the Israeli soldiers on May 20, 2001, who claimed that students has been throwing stones at their patrols. The school is located approximately 400m away from a road where the Israeli patrols pass.
At approximately 12:00 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned at a roadblock to the south of Jericho, and an undercover unit of the Israeli forces opened fire on a Palestinian civilian car that was traveling from Jericho. One Palestinian was killed and two were wounded. According to eyewitnesses, the taxi, driven by Ahmed Abu Zeid, in which three Palestinian young men were travelling, was heading south from Jericho.
The taxi stopped approximately 200m away from the roadblock and was waiting for permission to pass. An Israeli military jeep came from the right and a car with a Palestinian number plate came from the left. When the four Palestinians saw the two vehicles, they tried to escape towards Jericho. Before they could reach the Oasis Casino in Jericho, Israeli soldiers in the jeep and the other car opened fire. The three occupants of the Palestinian civilian car were injured, while the driver was unharmed. The Israeli occupation forces evacuated one of the injured by helicopter. The two other occupants and the driver were taken to the headquarters of the Israeli military liaison in Jericho where they were arrested.
Later, the Israeli military liaison informed the Palestinian side that one of the injured, Ahmed Hassan Heleila, 20, from Aqabat Jaber refugee camp near Jericho, had died. The other two injured were Daoud ‘Ebayyat and ‘Abdel-Rahman Hassan Weshah, both from Jercicho.
At approximately 17:15 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in a military site near Al-Tuffah roadblock which separates Khan Yunis from its Al-Mawasi area, opened fire on Palestinian houses in the western part of Khan Yunis refugee camp, and on Palestinian civilians standing near the aforementioned roadblock. The Palestinian civilians were waiting for permission from the Israeli occupation forces to cross the Al-Tuffah roadblock back into the Al-Mawasi area.
Diab Mohammed Diab Abu Mousa, 35, was wounded with a live bullet in the left leg, and a number of houses were damaged.
According to eyewitnesses and other evidence gathered by PCHR, two Palestinian young men walked towards Al-Tuffah roadblock. One of them was carrying a sack on his back. When he reached a metal checking facility he exploded himself. The explosion dispersed around the area and stones and equipment of the roadblock exploded. The second man threw hand grenades at the Israeli soldiers who opened fire, killing him.
The Israeli soldiers continued shooting, firing at Palestinian houses and a number of Palestinian civilians who were waiting approximately 70m away from the roadblock, wounding Abu Mousa. Later, the Israeli forces handed over the bodies of the two men to the Palestinian side. PCHR was informed that the men were:
1) Ismail ‘Arafat ‘Aashour, 18, from Khan Yunis, who exploded the bomb; and
2) ‘Abdel-Mo’ti ‘Ali El-‘Assar, 19, from Khan Yunis, who threw hand grenades at the soldiers.
At approximately 4:40 local time, a tank of the Israeli occupation forces fired three artillery shells and several heavy and medium caliber bullets at a post of the Palestinian National Security Forces, approximately 600m to the north of Netzarim settlement, to the south of Gaza City. Five members of the post were wounded as follows:
1) Sharif Hussein ‘Abdel-‘Aal, 23, from Khan Yunis, wounded with a medium caliber bullet in the left thigh;
2) Hani Khalil Nasser, 24, from Rafah, wounded with shrapnel in the left shoulder;
3) Khaled Hassan ‘Azara, 31, from Al-Boreij refugee camp, wounded with a medium caliber bullet that entered the right thigh and settled in the left one;
4) Eihab Mousa El-Kahlout, 30, from Jabalya refugee camp, received bruises in the back; and
5) Ibrahim Ahmed Lafi, 27, from Rafah, received bruises throughout the body.
At approximately 14:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces attempted to break into areas adjacent to the border with Egypt in Rafah. Two tanks and a bulldozer attempted to break into Yebna refugee camp. Members of the Palestinian National Security Forces confronted the Israeli forces, which in response fired artillery shells and live bullets. A Palestinian security man and 3 civilians were injured as follows:
1) Ashraf ‘Abdel-Hakim Zannoun, 11, injured with shrapnel in the back;
2) Yasser ‘Abdel-Rahim Abu ‘Obeid, 33, injured with shrapnel in the face;
3) Raja’ Zamel El-Sheikh ‘Eid, 27, injured with a live bullet in the left leg; and
4) Farid ‘Omar Al-Najjar, 34, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, injured with shrapnel in the legs.
At approximately 19:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in military sites near Hawara village in Nablus, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Kufor Qallil village to the south of Nablus. The shelling, which lasted for 3 hours, left a number of the houses severely damaged.
At approximately 21:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Neve Dekalim settlement to the west of Khan Yunis, shelled Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp. For 20 minutes, the Israeli forces fired a number of artillery shells, containing dart-like objects, and heavy and medium caliber bullets. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that an artillery shell fell in Jamal Abdulnasser Street in the middle of Khan Yunis, approximately 2km away from the aforementioned settlement. Shrapnel dispersed throughout an area approximately 100m in diameter.
A Palestinian civilian, Bassam Fawzi Abu Rezeq, 25, was injured with shrapnel in the right forearm. He was evacuated to the Palestine Red Crescent Society hospital in Khan Yunis for treatment.
At approximately 23:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Gani Tal settlement to the northwest of Khan Yunis, fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Al-Satar Al-Gharbi area to the east of the settlement. A number of Palestinian houses and farms were damaged.
At approximately 9:30 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers fired tear gas canisters at Hazma Secondary School. Students at the school were sitting their final exams. The headmaster, Ref’at Mousa ‘Atta Abu El-Haj, 41, and a teacher, Fadi Khalil Mohammed Hassan, 27, suffered respiratory problems due to tear gas inhalation. Israeli soldiers obstructed their evacuation to a clinic in the village.
The same school was exposed to a similar attack by the Israeli soldiers on May 20, 2001, who claimed that students has been throwing stones at their patrols. The school is located approximately 400m away from a road where the Israeli patrols pass.
At approximately 12:00 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned at a roadblock to the south of Jericho, and an undercover unit of the Israeli forces opened fire on a Palestinian civilian car that was traveling from Jericho. One Palestinian was killed and two were wounded. According to eyewitnesses, the taxi, driven by Ahmed Abu Zeid, in which three Palestinian young men were travelling, was heading south from Jericho.
The taxi stopped approximately 200m away from the roadblock and was waiting for permission to pass. An Israeli military jeep came from the right and a car with a Palestinian number plate came from the left. When the four Palestinians saw the two vehicles, they tried to escape towards Jericho. Before they could reach the Oasis Casino in Jericho, Israeli soldiers in the jeep and the other car opened fire. The three occupants of the Palestinian civilian car were injured, while the driver was unharmed. The Israeli occupation forces evacuated one of the injured by helicopter. The two other occupants and the driver were taken to the headquarters of the Israeli military liaison in Jericho where they were arrested.
Later, the Israeli military liaison informed the Palestinian side that one of the injured, Ahmed Hassan Heleila, 20, from Aqabat Jaber refugee camp near Jericho, had died. The other two injured were Daoud ‘Ebayyat and ‘Abdel-Rahman Hassan Weshah, both from Jercicho.
At approximately 17:15 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in a military site near Al-Tuffah roadblock which separates Khan Yunis from its Al-Mawasi area, opened fire on Palestinian houses in the western part of Khan Yunis refugee camp, and on Palestinian civilians standing near the aforementioned roadblock. The Palestinian civilians were waiting for permission from the Israeli occupation forces to cross the Al-Tuffah roadblock back into the Al-Mawasi area.
Diab Mohammed Diab Abu Mousa, 35, was wounded with a live bullet in the left leg, and a number of houses were damaged.
According to eyewitnesses and other evidence gathered by PCHR, two Palestinian young men walked towards Al-Tuffah roadblock. One of them was carrying a sack on his back. When he reached a metal checking facility he exploded himself. The explosion dispersed around the area and stones and equipment of the roadblock exploded. The second man threw hand grenades at the Israeli soldiers who opened fire, killing him.
The Israeli soldiers continued shooting, firing at Palestinian houses and a number of Palestinian civilians who were waiting approximately 70m away from the roadblock, wounding Abu Mousa. Later, the Israeli forces handed over the bodies of the two men to the Palestinian side. PCHR was informed that the men were:
1) Ismail ‘Arafat ‘Aashour, 18, from Khan Yunis, who exploded the bomb; and
2) ‘Abdel-Mo’ti ‘Ali El-‘Assar, 19, from Khan Yunis, who threw hand grenades at the soldiers.
At approximately 4:40 local time, a tank of the Israeli occupation forces fired three artillery shells and several heavy and medium caliber bullets at a post of the Palestinian National Security Forces, approximately 600m to the north of Netzarim settlement, to the south of Gaza City. Five members of the post were wounded as follows:
1) Sharif Hussein ‘Abdel-‘Aal, 23, from Khan Yunis, wounded with a medium caliber bullet in the left thigh;
2) Hani Khalil Nasser, 24, from Rafah, wounded with shrapnel in the left shoulder;
3) Khaled Hassan ‘Azara, 31, from Al-Boreij refugee camp, wounded with a medium caliber bullet that entered the right thigh and settled in the left one;
4) Eihab Mousa El-Kahlout, 30, from Jabalya refugee camp, received bruises in the back; and
5) Ibrahim Ahmed Lafi, 27, from Rafah, received bruises throughout the body.
At approximately 14:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces attempted to break into areas adjacent to the border with Egypt in Rafah. Two tanks and a bulldozer attempted to break into Yebna refugee camp. Members of the Palestinian National Security Forces confronted the Israeli forces, which in response fired artillery shells and live bullets. A Palestinian security man and 3 civilians were injured as follows:
1) Ashraf ‘Abdel-Hakim Zannoun, 11, injured with shrapnel in the back;
2) Yasser ‘Abdel-Rahim Abu ‘Obeid, 33, injured with shrapnel in the face;
3) Raja’ Zamel El-Sheikh ‘Eid, 27, injured with a live bullet in the left leg; and
4) Farid ‘Omar Al-Najjar, 34, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, injured with shrapnel in the legs.
At approximately 19:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in military sites near Hawara village in Nablus, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Kufor Qallil village to the south of Nablus. The shelling, which lasted for 3 hours, left a number of the houses severely damaged.
At approximately 21:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Neve Dekalim settlement to the west of Khan Yunis, shelled Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp. For 20 minutes, the Israeli forces fired a number of artillery shells, containing dart-like objects, and heavy and medium caliber bullets. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that an artillery shell fell in Jamal Abdulnasser Street in the middle of Khan Yunis, approximately 2km away from the aforementioned settlement. Shrapnel dispersed throughout an area approximately 100m in diameter.
A Palestinian civilian, Bassam Fawzi Abu Rezeq, 25, was injured with shrapnel in the right forearm. He was evacuated to the Palestine Red Crescent Society hospital in Khan Yunis for treatment.
At approximately 23:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Gani Tal settlement to the northwest of Khan Yunis, fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Al-Satar Al-Gharbi area to the east of the settlement. A number of Palestinian houses and farms were damaged.
28 may 2001
At approximately 18:00 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers, in a tank passing the Al-Brazil neighborhood in Rafah near the Egyptian border opened fire on Palestinian civilians leaving four civilians wounded:
1) Wassim Slman El-Satari, 17, sustained a shrapnel wound in the right thigh;
2) ‘Alla’ Ahmed Ibrahim, 18, sustained a shrapnel wound in the right leg and thigh;
3) Sabah Marzouq Abu ‘Armaneh, 27, sustained a shrapnel wound in the right thigh; and
4) ‘Emad Rajab Abu Hammad, 27, sustained a shrapnel wound in the right thigh.
At approximately 18:00 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers, in a tank passing the Al-Brazil neighborhood in Rafah near the Egyptian border opened fire on Palestinian civilians leaving four civilians wounded:
1) Wassim Slman El-Satari, 17, sustained a shrapnel wound in the right thigh;
2) ‘Alla’ Ahmed Ibrahim, 18, sustained a shrapnel wound in the right leg and thigh;
3) Sabah Marzouq Abu ‘Armaneh, 27, sustained a shrapnel wound in the right thigh; and
4) ‘Emad Rajab Abu Hammad, 27, sustained a shrapnel wound in the right thigh.
27 may 2001
At approximately 21:00 local time, seven-year-old Saqer Jaber Abu Samhadaneh, from Rafah, was wounded in the left foot by a live bullet fired by the Israeli occupation forces. PCHR was informed that the child was in front of his family’s house in the ‘Oraybeh area in the northwest of Rafah when he was fired upon from an Israeli military site to the west.
At approximately 22:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in Tsheva’ military site in the northern valleys, fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Tayaseer village in Tubas. Tayaseer elementary school, located approximately 80m away from the military site, was hit with bullets, smashing a number of its windows.
The same school was partially destroyed by shelling by the Israeli occupation forces on April 19, 2001.
Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians
At approximately 18:30 local time, settlers opened fire at some Palestinian shepherds near ‘Ourif village to the southwest of Nablus.
1) Samih Wajih Safadi, 23, was wounded with a live bullet in head;
2) Bassam Samih Safadi, 33, a nurse at Jericho hospital, was wounded with shrapnel of a live bullet; and
3) Sa’d El-Din Mahmoud Safadi, 27, was wounded with a live bullet in the left knee.
PCHR learnt than a number of settlers from Yitshar settlement, to the northeast of ‘Ourif village unjustifiably opened fire on those civilians from a distance of approximately 150m.
At approximately 9:00 local time, settlers opened fire on school students in Taqqoua’ village to the east of Bethlehem, seriously wounding two students. A number of students were standing at the side of the main road of the village after finishing their exams.
A civilian car passed by and settlers in the car opened fire on the students from a distance of only 6m. Two students were seriously wounded as follows:
1) Mahmoud Ahmed Mohamemd ‘Oweida Humeid, 17, wounded with a live bullet that entered the buttocks and the pelvis and settled in the bladder; and
2) Nidal Khalil ‘Oleyan Jabarin, 18, wounded with two live bullets in the back and the left wrist.
Update:
In the morning, a Palestinian escaped an assassination attempt by the Israeli occupation forces. At approximately 09:15 local time, Mohammed Suleiman Besharat, 25, from Tammoun village in Jenin, was traveling in his car along a street in the east of Tammoun village which is under the full control of the Palestinian National Authority.
A bomb exploded at a distance of approximately 5m from his car. He was unharmed. According to eyewitnesses, an Israeli occupation force helicopter was flying over the area at the time, indicating that a bomb may have been detonated by remote control.
At approximately 21:00 local time, seven-year-old Saqer Jaber Abu Samhadaneh, from Rafah, was wounded in the left foot by a live bullet fired by the Israeli occupation forces. PCHR was informed that the child was in front of his family’s house in the ‘Oraybeh area in the northwest of Rafah when he was fired upon from an Israeli military site to the west.
At approximately 22:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in Tsheva’ military site in the northern valleys, fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Tayaseer village in Tubas. Tayaseer elementary school, located approximately 80m away from the military site, was hit with bullets, smashing a number of its windows.
The same school was partially destroyed by shelling by the Israeli occupation forces on April 19, 2001.
Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians
At approximately 18:30 local time, settlers opened fire at some Palestinian shepherds near ‘Ourif village to the southwest of Nablus.
1) Samih Wajih Safadi, 23, was wounded with a live bullet in head;
2) Bassam Samih Safadi, 33, a nurse at Jericho hospital, was wounded with shrapnel of a live bullet; and
3) Sa’d El-Din Mahmoud Safadi, 27, was wounded with a live bullet in the left knee.
PCHR learnt than a number of settlers from Yitshar settlement, to the northeast of ‘Ourif village unjustifiably opened fire on those civilians from a distance of approximately 150m.
At approximately 9:00 local time, settlers opened fire on school students in Taqqoua’ village to the east of Bethlehem, seriously wounding two students. A number of students were standing at the side of the main road of the village after finishing their exams.
A civilian car passed by and settlers in the car opened fire on the students from a distance of only 6m. Two students were seriously wounded as follows:
1) Mahmoud Ahmed Mohamemd ‘Oweida Humeid, 17, wounded with a live bullet that entered the buttocks and the pelvis and settled in the bladder; and
2) Nidal Khalil ‘Oleyan Jabarin, 18, wounded with two live bullets in the back and the left wrist.
Update:
In the morning, a Palestinian escaped an assassination attempt by the Israeli occupation forces. At approximately 09:15 local time, Mohammed Suleiman Besharat, 25, from Tammoun village in Jenin, was traveling in his car along a street in the east of Tammoun village which is under the full control of the Palestinian National Authority.
A bomb exploded at a distance of approximately 5m from his car. He was unharmed. According to eyewitnesses, an Israeli occupation force helicopter was flying over the area at the time, indicating that a bomb may have been detonated by remote control.
25 may 2001
At approximately 13:00 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers, passing in tanks near Block “L” in Yebna refugee camp, Rafah, near the Egyptian border, opened fire on a number of Palestinian civilians, wounding two. According to PCHR’s investigation, the civilians were watching land-leveling being carried out by the Israeli occupation forces at the border searching for underground tunnels that might be established between Rafah and the Egyptian territories.
Although the group posed no threat, the Israeli soldiers opened fire on the civilians wounding
1) Tayseer Ahmed Barhoum, 15, in the chest with a live bullet; and
2) Yahia Mohammed El-Sheikh ‘Eid, 23, in the left arm with a live bullet.
In the afternoon, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at a bypass road near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outelt to the east of Gaza City, opened fire on a group of Palestinian children who were demonstrating approximately 150m away. Three children were wounded as follows:
1) Fureih Suleiman El-‘Oweidat, 15, from Al-Nasser neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded in the left thigh with a live bullet;
2) Tariq Ziafd Saleh, 17, from Al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded in the right forearm and thigh with a live bullet; and
3) Ahmed Samir Abu Sardana, 16, from Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh.
In the morning, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at Al-Shuhada’ junction to the south of Gaza City, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at a post of the Palestinian National Security Forces, approximately 150m to the north of the aforementioned junction. Five members PSNF personnel stationed at the post received bruises in several parts of the body before they were able to withdraw. Later, Israeli occupation forces’ bulldozers demolished the post, which was located in an area under full PNA control.
At approximately 15:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the border with Egypt south of Rafah, fired artillery shells at Palestinian houses adjacent to the border in Block “L” area in Yebna refugee camp.
Eight Palestinians, including five children and a medic, were injured by shrapnel. They were evacuated to Al-Joneina Hospital in Rafah. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that an artillery shell fell near an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, damaging it.
The driver, Khalil Rajeh Subeh, 35, sustained shrapnel injuries to the head. The other wounded were:
1) Marwan Fathi El-Hams, 8, injured by shrapnel in the back;
2) Jihan Sa’adat El-Hams, 9, injured by shrapnel in the left thigh;
3) Mohammed Samir Abu ‘Oun, 10, injured by shrapnel in the right eye;
4) Bassel Mohammed Radwan, 12, injured by shrapnel in the left knee;
5) Eyad Nafez Abu Taha, 14, injured by shrapnel in the head;
6) Mohammed Eihab El-Hanadi, 20, injured by shrapnel in the left leg; and
7) ‘Omran Mohammed Zo’rob, 24, injured by shrapnel in the back.
At approximately 13:00 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers, passing in tanks near Block “L” in Yebna refugee camp, Rafah, near the Egyptian border, opened fire on a number of Palestinian civilians, wounding two. According to PCHR’s investigation, the civilians were watching land-leveling being carried out by the Israeli occupation forces at the border searching for underground tunnels that might be established between Rafah and the Egyptian territories.
Although the group posed no threat, the Israeli soldiers opened fire on the civilians wounding
1) Tayseer Ahmed Barhoum, 15, in the chest with a live bullet; and
2) Yahia Mohammed El-Sheikh ‘Eid, 23, in the left arm with a live bullet.
In the afternoon, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at a bypass road near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outelt to the east of Gaza City, opened fire on a group of Palestinian children who were demonstrating approximately 150m away. Three children were wounded as follows:
1) Fureih Suleiman El-‘Oweidat, 15, from Al-Nasser neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded in the left thigh with a live bullet;
2) Tariq Ziafd Saleh, 17, from Al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded in the right forearm and thigh with a live bullet; and
3) Ahmed Samir Abu Sardana, 16, from Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh.
In the morning, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at Al-Shuhada’ junction to the south of Gaza City, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at a post of the Palestinian National Security Forces, approximately 150m to the north of the aforementioned junction. Five members PSNF personnel stationed at the post received bruises in several parts of the body before they were able to withdraw. Later, Israeli occupation forces’ bulldozers demolished the post, which was located in an area under full PNA control.
At approximately 15:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the border with Egypt south of Rafah, fired artillery shells at Palestinian houses adjacent to the border in Block “L” area in Yebna refugee camp.
Eight Palestinians, including five children and a medic, were injured by shrapnel. They were evacuated to Al-Joneina Hospital in Rafah. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that an artillery shell fell near an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, damaging it.
The driver, Khalil Rajeh Subeh, 35, sustained shrapnel injuries to the head. The other wounded were:
1) Marwan Fathi El-Hams, 8, injured by shrapnel in the back;
2) Jihan Sa’adat El-Hams, 9, injured by shrapnel in the left thigh;
3) Mohammed Samir Abu ‘Oun, 10, injured by shrapnel in the right eye;
4) Bassel Mohammed Radwan, 12, injured by shrapnel in the left knee;
5) Eyad Nafez Abu Taha, 14, injured by shrapnel in the head;
6) Mohammed Eihab El-Hanadi, 20, injured by shrapnel in the left leg; and
7) ‘Omran Mohammed Zo’rob, 24, injured by shrapnel in the back.
24 may 2001
At approximately 12:30 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned at the border with Egypt to the south of Rafah, fired at an eleven-year-old child, Beha’ El-Din Fawzi Barhoum, wounding him with a live bullet in the left shoulder. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that there were no clashes in the area at the time of the incident and that Barhoum was to the north of the border, near Block “L” area in Yebna refugee camp in Rafah.
At approximately 14:30 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned at the Egyptian border south of Rafah, fired at Shadi Kamal Ahmed Siam, 18, wounding him with a live bullet that entered the chest and exited through the back. He died an hour later in Al-Joneina hospital in Rafah.
PCHR’s investigations discovered that Siam was both deaf and dumb and had not participated in any activities against the Israeli occupation forces. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that Siam was a victim of indiscriminate shooting by the Israeli occupation forces at Palestinian residential areas. He had not at any time pose any threat to the lives of Israeli soldiers.
PCHR’s field officer added that the area in which this shooting occured had earlier witnessed armed confrontations between members of the Palestinian National Security Forces and the Israeli occupation forces which had been combing the area near the border. At 14:30 the Israeli forces opened fire indiscriminately at Palestinian civilians, killing Siam. Three Palestinian civilians were also wounded by the shooting, which lasted until 17:00 local time:
1) Ibrahim Hassan Farahat, 19, wounded with a live bullet in the chest;
2) Ismail Ibrahim Jarghoun, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the left arm; and
3) ‘Emad ‘Abdullah Barhoum, 16, wounded with shrapnel in the head.
Also in Rafah, at approximately 17:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces willfully killed ‘Alla’ ‘Aadel El-Bouji, 15, from Rafah, and injured two other children. PCHR’s investigations found that Israeli occupation soldiers, using guns fitted with silencers, had fired at a number of Palestinian children who were demonstrating in Tal Al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of Rafah. The children were demonstrating approximately 200m to the east of a settlement road near Slao settlement in Al-Mawasi area when a number of Israeli soldiers got out of military jeeps and opened fire on the children.
The children did not pose any threat to the lives of the Israeli soldiers. ‘Alla’ El-Bouji was critically wounded with a live bullet in the heart. He was pronounced dead at Al-Joneina hospital in Rafah, where he was taken for emergency care. The two children wounded were:
1) Ahmed Ibrahim Shaqaleih, 13, wounded in the left elbow with a live bullet; and
2) Rami Haidar El-Bouji, 15, wounded in the right elbow with shrapnel from live bullets
At approximately 05:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces broke into areas under the full control of the Palestinian National Authority to the southwest of Gaza City. PCHR’s field officer in Gaza City reported that Israeli military tanks and bulldozers encroached approximately 1,500m inside Palestinian areas to the north of Netzarim settlement, located to the south of Gaza City. This operation lasted until 07:30 local time, during which the forces razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land, and fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at houses. At the same time, the Israeli forces closed the coastal road between Gaza City and the middle area of the Gaza Strip, prohibiting movement between the two areas.
Maher ‘Omar Shamallakh, 27, resident of the affected area, was wounded with a heavy caliber bullet that entered the right thigh and settled in the left one. An investigation conducted by PCHR found that Shamallakh was shot when he was watching the leveling and destruction of his family’s land being carried out by the Israeli occupation forces. Additionally, an artillery shell hit a container of agricultural tools owned by ‘Abdel-Rahman ‘Abdullah ‘Abdel-Wahab Shamallakh and completely destroying it.
At approximately 17:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in Sanour military site in Jenin, fired two artillery shells at Palestinian agricultural land to the southeast of the aforementioned site. Fire broke out on 50 donums of agricultural land planted with olives and almonds. The Israeli forces prevented Palestinian Civil Defense fire engines from accessing the area to put out the fire.
At approximately 17:05 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Gilo settlement to the northwest of Beit Jala, and at the northern entrance to Bethlehem, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at residential areas in Beit Jala, Bethlehem and the ‘Aida refugee camp.
The shelling, which lasted for 6 hours, left 9 Palestinian civilians with shrapnel wounds and suffering from shock. Among those injured were three members of one family who had been inside their house in ‘Aida refugee camp. They are:
1) Ezdihar Yousef Abu Sorour, 9, injured with shrapnel in the left hand;
2) Esra’ Jamil Abu Sorour, 13, injured with shrapnel in the right eye and the abdomen; and
3) Mohammed Jamil Abu Sorour, 25, injured with shrapnel in the left leg.
The others injured were:
1) Ayman Hussein Bouja, 16, injured with shrapnel in the right thigh;
2) Mohammed ‘Ali Noufal, 23, injured with shrapnel in the legs;
3) Sa’d Ibrahim Hamdan, 32, injured with shrapnel in the back;
4) Mustafa Jalal Hamamra, 27, injured with shrapnel in the foot that caused a cut in an artery;
5) Marry Nader El-Qassasfa, 23, injured with shrapnel in the right hand; and
6) Ya’qoub Jereis El-Qassasfa, 55, injured with shrapnel in the left hand.
Furthermore, a number of houses were severely damaged. The house of Fayez Ya’qoub Jerjes, which had five inhabitants, was burnt throughout and its windows and doors were destroyed. A number of schools and civilian institutions were also damaged
At approximately 12:30 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned at the border with Egypt to the south of Rafah, fired at an eleven-year-old child, Beha’ El-Din Fawzi Barhoum, wounding him with a live bullet in the left shoulder. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that there were no clashes in the area at the time of the incident and that Barhoum was to the north of the border, near Block “L” area in Yebna refugee camp in Rafah.
At approximately 14:30 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned at the Egyptian border south of Rafah, fired at Shadi Kamal Ahmed Siam, 18, wounding him with a live bullet that entered the chest and exited through the back. He died an hour later in Al-Joneina hospital in Rafah.
PCHR’s investigations discovered that Siam was both deaf and dumb and had not participated in any activities against the Israeli occupation forces. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that Siam was a victim of indiscriminate shooting by the Israeli occupation forces at Palestinian residential areas. He had not at any time pose any threat to the lives of Israeli soldiers.
PCHR’s field officer added that the area in which this shooting occured had earlier witnessed armed confrontations between members of the Palestinian National Security Forces and the Israeli occupation forces which had been combing the area near the border. At 14:30 the Israeli forces opened fire indiscriminately at Palestinian civilians, killing Siam. Three Palestinian civilians were also wounded by the shooting, which lasted until 17:00 local time:
1) Ibrahim Hassan Farahat, 19, wounded with a live bullet in the chest;
2) Ismail Ibrahim Jarghoun, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the left arm; and
3) ‘Emad ‘Abdullah Barhoum, 16, wounded with shrapnel in the head.
Also in Rafah, at approximately 17:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces willfully killed ‘Alla’ ‘Aadel El-Bouji, 15, from Rafah, and injured two other children. PCHR’s investigations found that Israeli occupation soldiers, using guns fitted with silencers, had fired at a number of Palestinian children who were demonstrating in Tal Al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of Rafah. The children were demonstrating approximately 200m to the east of a settlement road near Slao settlement in Al-Mawasi area when a number of Israeli soldiers got out of military jeeps and opened fire on the children.
The children did not pose any threat to the lives of the Israeli soldiers. ‘Alla’ El-Bouji was critically wounded with a live bullet in the heart. He was pronounced dead at Al-Joneina hospital in Rafah, where he was taken for emergency care. The two children wounded were:
1) Ahmed Ibrahim Shaqaleih, 13, wounded in the left elbow with a live bullet; and
2) Rami Haidar El-Bouji, 15, wounded in the right elbow with shrapnel from live bullets
At approximately 05:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces broke into areas under the full control of the Palestinian National Authority to the southwest of Gaza City. PCHR’s field officer in Gaza City reported that Israeli military tanks and bulldozers encroached approximately 1,500m inside Palestinian areas to the north of Netzarim settlement, located to the south of Gaza City. This operation lasted until 07:30 local time, during which the forces razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land, and fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at houses. At the same time, the Israeli forces closed the coastal road between Gaza City and the middle area of the Gaza Strip, prohibiting movement between the two areas.
Maher ‘Omar Shamallakh, 27, resident of the affected area, was wounded with a heavy caliber bullet that entered the right thigh and settled in the left one. An investigation conducted by PCHR found that Shamallakh was shot when he was watching the leveling and destruction of his family’s land being carried out by the Israeli occupation forces. Additionally, an artillery shell hit a container of agricultural tools owned by ‘Abdel-Rahman ‘Abdullah ‘Abdel-Wahab Shamallakh and completely destroying it.
At approximately 17:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in Sanour military site in Jenin, fired two artillery shells at Palestinian agricultural land to the southeast of the aforementioned site. Fire broke out on 50 donums of agricultural land planted with olives and almonds. The Israeli forces prevented Palestinian Civil Defense fire engines from accessing the area to put out the fire.
At approximately 17:05 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Gilo settlement to the northwest of Beit Jala, and at the northern entrance to Bethlehem, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at residential areas in Beit Jala, Bethlehem and the ‘Aida refugee camp.
The shelling, which lasted for 6 hours, left 9 Palestinian civilians with shrapnel wounds and suffering from shock. Among those injured were three members of one family who had been inside their house in ‘Aida refugee camp. They are:
1) Ezdihar Yousef Abu Sorour, 9, injured with shrapnel in the left hand;
2) Esra’ Jamil Abu Sorour, 13, injured with shrapnel in the right eye and the abdomen; and
3) Mohammed Jamil Abu Sorour, 25, injured with shrapnel in the left leg.
The others injured were:
1) Ayman Hussein Bouja, 16, injured with shrapnel in the right thigh;
2) Mohammed ‘Ali Noufal, 23, injured with shrapnel in the legs;
3) Sa’d Ibrahim Hamdan, 32, injured with shrapnel in the back;
4) Mustafa Jalal Hamamra, 27, injured with shrapnel in the foot that caused a cut in an artery;
5) Marry Nader El-Qassasfa, 23, injured with shrapnel in the right hand; and
6) Ya’qoub Jereis El-Qassasfa, 55, injured with shrapnel in the left hand.
Furthermore, a number of houses were severely damaged. The house of Fayez Ya’qoub Jerjes, which had five inhabitants, was burnt throughout and its windows and doors were destroyed. A number of schools and civilian institutions were also damaged