23 feb 2001
At approximately 10:30 local time, the Israeli forces opened fire on a number of journalists, in an apparent attempt frighten and deter them from covering the closure off the coastal road between Gaza City and the middle area of the Gaza Strip, opposite to Netzarim settlement. Those journalists were approximately 200m away from the soldiers’ position when they were fired at. Although they were forced to leave the area, no injuries were reported among them. They journalists are:
1) Suhaib Hussam Jadallah, a 24-year-old Reuters cameraman from Gaza City;
2) Saber Ibrahim Shehadeh Nour El-Din, a 21-year-old Agence France Presse (AFP) photographer from Gaza City;
3) Hatem Mahmoud Mustafa Mousa, a 26-year-old of Wafa (the Palestinian press agency) photographer, from Gaza City; and
4) Peter Andro, a 40-year-old Canadian Reuters cameraman.
In the afternoon, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire indiscriminately on Palestinian civilians peacefully demonstrating at the northern entrance of Al-Bireh. As a result, six Palestinian civilians were wounded with live bullets, 49 were wounded with rubber-coated metal bullets, and others fainted and suffocated due to tear gas inhalation.
Among the wounded was Mark Singer, an AFP photographer, who was wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the shoulder. Additionally, Israeli forces wounded three Palestine Red Crescent Society medical personnel and two volunteers of the Palestinian Medical Relief Committees. They were:
1) Tariq E’issa A’abed, 24, wounded with two rubber-coated metal bullets in the head and the chest;
2) Ahlam Nabil Nasser, 24, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left side;
3) Nizar Faro’un, 21, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right shoulder;
4) Nader Fawzi A’adel, 17, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left thigh; and
5) Hussam Hammouda, 18, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left hand.
At approximately 15:00 local time, Jamal E’issa Qabalan, 17, from Qalqilya, was wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg when Israeli forces fired upon Palestinians demonstrating at the southern entrance of Qalqilya.
At approximately 16:00 local time, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians demonstrating 150m away near the western entrance of Al-Khader village near Bethlehem. Consequently, Rae’d Mousa Hussein Mousa, 21, was killed with by live bullet in the chest, and another five Palestinian civilians were wounded by live bullets.
Also at approximately 16:00 local time, Israeli forces opened fire on a number of Palestinian children demonstrating in Al-Moghraqa area in the south of Gaza City.
As a result, two children were wounded, one by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head. PCHR’s area field officer reported that the children were demonstrating approximately 150m to the south of an Israeli tank and jeep positioned 200m west of Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction at the junction of Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip) and the access road to Netzarim settlement. The wounded children were:
1) Tamer El-Dayem, 12, from Nusseirat refugee camp, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head; and
2) Ismail Hamdan, 16, also from Nusseirat refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh.
The PCHR’s field officer added that the Israeli forces closed Salah El-Din Street at Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction and prevented the two wounded children’s evacuation in a Palestine Red Crescent Society ambulance to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. They were therefore evacuated to a clinic in Deir El-Balah.
Also in the afternoon, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian civilians, mostly children, who were demonstrating near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City. Consequently, four demonstrators, including three children, were wounded as follows:
1) Wajdi Nahedh Salim, 14, from Shojae’ya neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the face;
2) Ahmed Ismail El-Sersek, 14, wounded with a live bullet in the right shoulder;
3) Rezeq Mahmoud Abu Noufal, 17, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh, and
4) E’id Khader A’yyad, 24, wounded with a live bullet in the back.
At approximately 9:00 local time, Talal Hassan Abu A’rida, 17, from Rafah, was critically wounded with a heavy caliber bullet in the head, when Israeli reinforcements at the Rafah border arbitrarily fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian civilians and houses in Rafah.
He was evacuated to the intensive care unit at Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. Abu A’rida was wounded when he was in an auto repair shop on Omar Ben El-Khattab Street, approximately 1,500m from Israeli forces positions at Salah El-Din Gate on the borderline. In his eyewitness testimony to PCHR, the repair shop’s owner’s son, said that he was repairing a car, when Talal Abu A’rida entered the shop and started talking with the car’s owner, who was waiting for his car with his child.
He added: “Suddenly, I heard something that sounded like an explosion. I looked around to see what was going on. I heard Talal, who was one meter away, crying. I looked at him and noticed that his features changed; his eyes bulged and his hands clenched. He fell on the ground with his head bleeding. Then, dozens of young men entered the shop and helped me carry to a car to drive him to Al-Joneina hospital in Rafah.”
Soon, Abu A’rida was evacuated to Al-Joneina hospital in Rafah, where he received medical treatment. Then, he was transferred by ambulance and accompanied by Dr. Yousef Hussein Nasser A’abed, a 31 physician from Rafah, to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. However, Israeli occupation forces positioned at two military roadblocks south of Gaza City, unjustifiably prevented the ambulance from passing for more than five hours, although Abu A’rida was in critical condition. In his testimony to PCHR, A’abed, the accompanying physician, said:
“…I got into the ambulance with nurse Jamal Jaber and Abu A’rida’s father. The ambulance driver, Samir Joudeh, moved towards Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. We fixed an oxygen tube for him to keep him breathing, and gave him medicine to calm him and decrease his movement. His condition was stable until we arrived at a junction on the coastal road, which leads east to Netzarim settlement. We arrived there at 9:30 (local time). Members of the Palestinian National Security Forces told us that the Israeli occupation forces had closed the coastal road as were shooting at whomever reached the area.
Immediately, we drove toward Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip), but an Israeli tank was stationed at Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction, closing the road. When we approached the junction, the Israeli occupation soldiers pointed the tank barrel at us and prevented our passage to Gaza City.
The first oxygen tube was about to run out the medicine was wearing off. Consequently, we decided to travel back to a clinic in Dier El-Balah and await the outcome of negotiations between the Palestinian side and the Israeli occupation forces to allow our passage to Gaza City.
We arrived in Deir El-Balah at approximately 10:30 (local time) when Abu A’rida’s condition worsened. He vomited and started to move. We remained there until 12:00 (local time), when the driver Samir Joudeh told me that he received a phone call from Al-Joneina hospital in Rafah, during which he was informed that negotiations with the Israeli side had concluded and that we could cross Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction.
We arrived at the junction at approximately 12:15 (local time), but again the Israeli occupation forces denied passage, although we waited until 1:00. Then, another ambulance, containing Dr. Dheifallah Abu Al-Hessein, Director of Medical Aid and Emergency in Gaza City, came from the direction of Deir El-Balah traveling to Gaza City. We moved Abu A’rida to the second ambulance, thinking that its passage had been agreed with the Israeli side.
The ambulance approached the junction, but the Israeli forces opened fire and denied its passage. The same happened three times. This lasted until 15:00 local time at which time the medicine ran out. Then, we received another phone call during which we were informed that passage of the ambulance had been agreed upon. Later, the Israeli forces allowed the passage of the ambulance.”
At approximately 20:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Netzarim settlement, to the south of Gaza City, shelled a sewage treatment facility of Gaza Municipality, approximately 700m to the north of the mentioned settlement. PCHR’s field officer in Gaza City reported that the Israeli forces had frequently shelled the facility over the past few weeks, threatening the lives of its staff. The PCHR’s field officer added that this most recent time, the Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets, causing the following damage:
1) Holes in water saving tanks used in desalination, approximately 60cm in diameter; and
2) Destruction of waterlines going in and out the facility.
At approximately 21:00 local time, Mohammed Abdel-Karim El-Roum, a 15-year-old from Qaddoura refugee camp near Ramallah, was critically wounded with a live bullet in the neck while inside his family’s home.
These forces, positioned inside Psagot settlement, to the east of Al-Bireh, fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Jabal El-Tawil and Al-Jenan neighborhoods in Al-Bireh. Bullets also hit houses in Qaddoura refugee camp, located approximately 2km away from military sites of the Israeli occupation forces
At approximately 10:30 local time, the Israeli forces opened fire on a number of journalists, in an apparent attempt frighten and deter them from covering the closure off the coastal road between Gaza City and the middle area of the Gaza Strip, opposite to Netzarim settlement. Those journalists were approximately 200m away from the soldiers’ position when they were fired at. Although they were forced to leave the area, no injuries were reported among them. They journalists are:
1) Suhaib Hussam Jadallah, a 24-year-old Reuters cameraman from Gaza City;
2) Saber Ibrahim Shehadeh Nour El-Din, a 21-year-old Agence France Presse (AFP) photographer from Gaza City;
3) Hatem Mahmoud Mustafa Mousa, a 26-year-old of Wafa (the Palestinian press agency) photographer, from Gaza City; and
4) Peter Andro, a 40-year-old Canadian Reuters cameraman.
In the afternoon, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire indiscriminately on Palestinian civilians peacefully demonstrating at the northern entrance of Al-Bireh. As a result, six Palestinian civilians were wounded with live bullets, 49 were wounded with rubber-coated metal bullets, and others fainted and suffocated due to tear gas inhalation.
Among the wounded was Mark Singer, an AFP photographer, who was wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the shoulder. Additionally, Israeli forces wounded three Palestine Red Crescent Society medical personnel and two volunteers of the Palestinian Medical Relief Committees. They were:
1) Tariq E’issa A’abed, 24, wounded with two rubber-coated metal bullets in the head and the chest;
2) Ahlam Nabil Nasser, 24, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left side;
3) Nizar Faro’un, 21, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right shoulder;
4) Nader Fawzi A’adel, 17, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left thigh; and
5) Hussam Hammouda, 18, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left hand.
At approximately 15:00 local time, Jamal E’issa Qabalan, 17, from Qalqilya, was wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg when Israeli forces fired upon Palestinians demonstrating at the southern entrance of Qalqilya.
At approximately 16:00 local time, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians demonstrating 150m away near the western entrance of Al-Khader village near Bethlehem. Consequently, Rae’d Mousa Hussein Mousa, 21, was killed with by live bullet in the chest, and another five Palestinian civilians were wounded by live bullets.
Also at approximately 16:00 local time, Israeli forces opened fire on a number of Palestinian children demonstrating in Al-Moghraqa area in the south of Gaza City.
As a result, two children were wounded, one by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head. PCHR’s area field officer reported that the children were demonstrating approximately 150m to the south of an Israeli tank and jeep positioned 200m west of Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction at the junction of Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip) and the access road to Netzarim settlement. The wounded children were:
1) Tamer El-Dayem, 12, from Nusseirat refugee camp, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head; and
2) Ismail Hamdan, 16, also from Nusseirat refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh.
The PCHR’s field officer added that the Israeli forces closed Salah El-Din Street at Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction and prevented the two wounded children’s evacuation in a Palestine Red Crescent Society ambulance to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. They were therefore evacuated to a clinic in Deir El-Balah.
Also in the afternoon, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian civilians, mostly children, who were demonstrating near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City. Consequently, four demonstrators, including three children, were wounded as follows:
1) Wajdi Nahedh Salim, 14, from Shojae’ya neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the face;
2) Ahmed Ismail El-Sersek, 14, wounded with a live bullet in the right shoulder;
3) Rezeq Mahmoud Abu Noufal, 17, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh, and
4) E’id Khader A’yyad, 24, wounded with a live bullet in the back.
At approximately 9:00 local time, Talal Hassan Abu A’rida, 17, from Rafah, was critically wounded with a heavy caliber bullet in the head, when Israeli reinforcements at the Rafah border arbitrarily fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian civilians and houses in Rafah.
He was evacuated to the intensive care unit at Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. Abu A’rida was wounded when he was in an auto repair shop on Omar Ben El-Khattab Street, approximately 1,500m from Israeli forces positions at Salah El-Din Gate on the borderline. In his eyewitness testimony to PCHR, the repair shop’s owner’s son, said that he was repairing a car, when Talal Abu A’rida entered the shop and started talking with the car’s owner, who was waiting for his car with his child.
He added: “Suddenly, I heard something that sounded like an explosion. I looked around to see what was going on. I heard Talal, who was one meter away, crying. I looked at him and noticed that his features changed; his eyes bulged and his hands clenched. He fell on the ground with his head bleeding. Then, dozens of young men entered the shop and helped me carry to a car to drive him to Al-Joneina hospital in Rafah.”
Soon, Abu A’rida was evacuated to Al-Joneina hospital in Rafah, where he received medical treatment. Then, he was transferred by ambulance and accompanied by Dr. Yousef Hussein Nasser A’abed, a 31 physician from Rafah, to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. However, Israeli occupation forces positioned at two military roadblocks south of Gaza City, unjustifiably prevented the ambulance from passing for more than five hours, although Abu A’rida was in critical condition. In his testimony to PCHR, A’abed, the accompanying physician, said:
“…I got into the ambulance with nurse Jamal Jaber and Abu A’rida’s father. The ambulance driver, Samir Joudeh, moved towards Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. We fixed an oxygen tube for him to keep him breathing, and gave him medicine to calm him and decrease his movement. His condition was stable until we arrived at a junction on the coastal road, which leads east to Netzarim settlement. We arrived there at 9:30 (local time). Members of the Palestinian National Security Forces told us that the Israeli occupation forces had closed the coastal road as were shooting at whomever reached the area.
Immediately, we drove toward Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip), but an Israeli tank was stationed at Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction, closing the road. When we approached the junction, the Israeli occupation soldiers pointed the tank barrel at us and prevented our passage to Gaza City.
The first oxygen tube was about to run out the medicine was wearing off. Consequently, we decided to travel back to a clinic in Dier El-Balah and await the outcome of negotiations between the Palestinian side and the Israeli occupation forces to allow our passage to Gaza City.
We arrived in Deir El-Balah at approximately 10:30 (local time) when Abu A’rida’s condition worsened. He vomited and started to move. We remained there until 12:00 (local time), when the driver Samir Joudeh told me that he received a phone call from Al-Joneina hospital in Rafah, during which he was informed that negotiations with the Israeli side had concluded and that we could cross Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction.
We arrived at the junction at approximately 12:15 (local time), but again the Israeli occupation forces denied passage, although we waited until 1:00. Then, another ambulance, containing Dr. Dheifallah Abu Al-Hessein, Director of Medical Aid and Emergency in Gaza City, came from the direction of Deir El-Balah traveling to Gaza City. We moved Abu A’rida to the second ambulance, thinking that its passage had been agreed with the Israeli side.
The ambulance approached the junction, but the Israeli forces opened fire and denied its passage. The same happened three times. This lasted until 15:00 local time at which time the medicine ran out. Then, we received another phone call during which we were informed that passage of the ambulance had been agreed upon. Later, the Israeli forces allowed the passage of the ambulance.”
At approximately 20:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Netzarim settlement, to the south of Gaza City, shelled a sewage treatment facility of Gaza Municipality, approximately 700m to the north of the mentioned settlement. PCHR’s field officer in Gaza City reported that the Israeli forces had frequently shelled the facility over the past few weeks, threatening the lives of its staff. The PCHR’s field officer added that this most recent time, the Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets, causing the following damage:
1) Holes in water saving tanks used in desalination, approximately 60cm in diameter; and
2) Destruction of waterlines going in and out the facility.
At approximately 21:00 local time, Mohammed Abdel-Karim El-Roum, a 15-year-old from Qaddoura refugee camp near Ramallah, was critically wounded with a live bullet in the neck while inside his family’s home.
These forces, positioned inside Psagot settlement, to the east of Al-Bireh, fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Jabal El-Tawil and Al-Jenan neighborhoods in Al-Bireh. Bullets also hit houses in Qaddoura refugee camp, located approximately 2km away from military sites of the Israeli occupation forces
22 feb 2001
At approximately 17:00 local time, three Palestinian children were wounded with live bullets fired by the Israeli occupation forces in the east of Gaza City. They are:
1) E’id Samih Ja’rour, 15, from Al-Remal neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left side;
2) Nidhal E’zzat El-Sheikh Khalil, 14, from Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left hand; and
3) Abdel-Rahamn Hashem Dhaban, 13, wounded with a live bullet in the right shoulder.
In his testimony to PCHR, the child E’id Ja’rour said that he and another 20 children came within 50m of an Israeli bulldozer that, under tank escort, was leveling agricultural lands near a settler bypass road, south of Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet. Israeli soldiers stationed on the tank opened fire on the children, and wounding Ja’rour and his peers with live bullets. They were evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. Ja’rour was also wounded with a live bullet in the back on November 19, 2000.
In Yabad village near Jenin, a number of Palestinian civilians suffocated and fainted due to tear gas inhalation. At approximately 16:00 local time, clashes erupted between Palestinian youth and the Israeli occupation forces in the East Mount area in the village. The forces fired tear gas canisters, two of which fell onto the house of Samir Ahmed Hamarasheh, located approximately 200m from military sites of the Israeli occupation forces.
As a result, his three children suffocated while they were in the balcony of the house and were treated in the area. Additionally, his five month pregnant wife, Wafa’ Hassan Hamarsheh, 35, fainted and was evacuated to Jenin hospital after she miscarried.
At approximately 17:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned near Netzarim settlement south of Gaza City, shelled a Gaza Municipal sewage treatment facility, located approximately 700m north of the settlement. PCHR’s area field officer reported that, after the shelling stopped, a tank of the Israeli occupation forces advanced toward the facility entrance, which is located in areas under full control of the Palestinian National Authority. The shelling resulted in the following damages to the facility:
1) Walls of the facility’s administration building were hit with heavy and medium caliber bullets which made 2cm holes.
2) The southern walls of treatment towers were hit with an artillery shell which made a 15 cm hole and bullets that made 2 cm holes.
3) A water saving tank was hit with bullets which made holes 2cm in diameter.
4) A tin car park was hit with bullets which made 2 cm holes.
At approximately 21:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned in eight military sites north of Netser Hazani settlement south of Deir El-Balah, fired artillery shells, heavy caliber bullets, and medium caliber bullets at Al-Berka area in Deir El-Balah. This lasted for approximately 45 minutes and damaged two schools and a house located approximately 400m to the north of the mentioned settlement. The damage is as follows:
1) The fence and the eastern façades of classrooms at Deir El-Balah industrial secondary school were hit with heavy and medium bullets which made 2cm holes and destroyed 40 windows.
2) The eastern façades of classrooms at Abdullah Ben Rawaha elementary school were hit with heavy and medium caliber bullets which made 2cm holes.
3) A 300-square-meter, two-story house, in which 25 people live, owned by Yousef Suleiman Abu Shmas, was hit with five artillery shells that penetrated its southern walls and made 10cm holes. The first floor of the house was also burnt and the furniture severely damaged. In his testimony to PCHR, Abu Shmas said that he and his family were inside their house when it was shelled.
At approximately 17:00 local time, three Palestinian children were wounded with live bullets fired by the Israeli occupation forces in the east of Gaza City. They are:
1) E’id Samih Ja’rour, 15, from Al-Remal neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left side;
2) Nidhal E’zzat El-Sheikh Khalil, 14, from Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left hand; and
3) Abdel-Rahamn Hashem Dhaban, 13, wounded with a live bullet in the right shoulder.
In his testimony to PCHR, the child E’id Ja’rour said that he and another 20 children came within 50m of an Israeli bulldozer that, under tank escort, was leveling agricultural lands near a settler bypass road, south of Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet. Israeli soldiers stationed on the tank opened fire on the children, and wounding Ja’rour and his peers with live bullets. They were evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. Ja’rour was also wounded with a live bullet in the back on November 19, 2000.
In Yabad village near Jenin, a number of Palestinian civilians suffocated and fainted due to tear gas inhalation. At approximately 16:00 local time, clashes erupted between Palestinian youth and the Israeli occupation forces in the East Mount area in the village. The forces fired tear gas canisters, two of which fell onto the house of Samir Ahmed Hamarasheh, located approximately 200m from military sites of the Israeli occupation forces.
As a result, his three children suffocated while they were in the balcony of the house and were treated in the area. Additionally, his five month pregnant wife, Wafa’ Hassan Hamarsheh, 35, fainted and was evacuated to Jenin hospital after she miscarried.
At approximately 17:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned near Netzarim settlement south of Gaza City, shelled a Gaza Municipal sewage treatment facility, located approximately 700m north of the settlement. PCHR’s area field officer reported that, after the shelling stopped, a tank of the Israeli occupation forces advanced toward the facility entrance, which is located in areas under full control of the Palestinian National Authority. The shelling resulted in the following damages to the facility:
1) Walls of the facility’s administration building were hit with heavy and medium caliber bullets which made 2cm holes.
2) The southern walls of treatment towers were hit with an artillery shell which made a 15 cm hole and bullets that made 2 cm holes.
3) A water saving tank was hit with bullets which made holes 2cm in diameter.
4) A tin car park was hit with bullets which made 2 cm holes.
At approximately 21:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned in eight military sites north of Netser Hazani settlement south of Deir El-Balah, fired artillery shells, heavy caliber bullets, and medium caliber bullets at Al-Berka area in Deir El-Balah. This lasted for approximately 45 minutes and damaged two schools and a house located approximately 400m to the north of the mentioned settlement. The damage is as follows:
1) The fence and the eastern façades of classrooms at Deir El-Balah industrial secondary school were hit with heavy and medium bullets which made 2cm holes and destroyed 40 windows.
2) The eastern façades of classrooms at Abdullah Ben Rawaha elementary school were hit with heavy and medium caliber bullets which made 2cm holes.
3) A 300-square-meter, two-story house, in which 25 people live, owned by Yousef Suleiman Abu Shmas, was hit with five artillery shells that penetrated its southern walls and made 10cm holes. The first floor of the house was also burnt and the furniture severely damaged. In his testimony to PCHR, Abu Shmas said that he and his family were inside their house when it was shelled.
20 feb 2001
At approximately 7:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the so-called “Avraham Avino settlement center,” in the middle of Hebron, opened fire on Palestinian students on their way to Al-Ya’qobia school for girls. Consequently, Rae’da No’man El-Atrash, 16, a tenth grate student, was wounded with two rubber-coated metal bullets in the right hand and left leg.
At approximately 12:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on a number of Palestinian youth and children who were demonstrating approximately 200m south of the forces’ position at Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction. The child Mohammed Abdullah Younis, 14, from Al-Boreij refugee camp was wounded with a live bullet in the right foot.
In addition, at approximately 13:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces fired at PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis Abdel-Halim Abu Samra, 39, and an American journalist, Ron Warzer, a press photographer for The Seattle Times.
As part of a PCHR’s program to inform the international media about Israeli against Palestinian civilians and their property, Abu Samra was accompanying Warzer in order to acquaint him with Israeli leveling of Palestinian agricultural land and demolition of civilian facilities. The two were on a branch road east of Salah El-Din Street (the main street between the north and south of the Gaza Strip) which leads to Kissufim Crossing on the eastern borderline of the Gaza Strip.
According to Abu Samra, Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire from tank in order to drive them away from the area, forcing the two to immediately leave the area.
At approximately 22:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces started to indiscriminately shell Palestinian residential neighborhoods in Beit Jala City and Al-Khader village. The shelling lasted for approximately two hours, during which time the Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells, heavy caliber bullets, and medium caliber bullets from their positions west of Beit Jala and in Gilo settlement.
Ossama Mohammed Ibrahim El-Qorabi El-Massalma, 18, from Beit Jala, was killed when shelling of his family’s house in Al-Iraq neighborhood caused a wall to collapse on him. He was pulled with difficulty from under the debris of the completely destroyed house and transferred to hospital dead. Additionally, his father and mother were wounded with artillery shell shrapnel throughout the body.
Artillery shells also hit the house of Sa’d Ahmed Salah in Al-Khader village, destroying the second floor and wounding three members of the family.
This included the child Mohammed Ahmed Salah, 13, who was wounded with shrapnel in the extremities. The shelling resulted in slightly or moderately wounding 12 people and damaging five houses, in addition to the aforementioned two.
(15 feb) In the morning, the Israeli occupation forces reinforced their presence west of Khan Yunis refugee camp. Four tanks were seen entering military sites in the vicinity of Al-Tuffah roadblock, separating Khan Yunis from its Al-Mawasi (agricultural) area, under the control of the Israeli occupation forces. Those tanks were added to five stationary military sites surrounding Khan Yunis refugee camp from the north, the northwest, and the southwest.
They also established a new 20-m-long observation tower near Al-Tuffah roadblock. The tower is believed to be equipped with sophisticated technology, video cameras, and sophisticated weapons that can be controlled from the base of the tower.
On Tuesday, February 20, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces established another similar observation tower near a military site to the west of Al-Amal neighborhood.
At approximately 7:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the so-called “Avraham Avino settlement center,” in the middle of Hebron, opened fire on Palestinian students on their way to Al-Ya’qobia school for girls. Consequently, Rae’da No’man El-Atrash, 16, a tenth grate student, was wounded with two rubber-coated metal bullets in the right hand and left leg.
At approximately 12:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on a number of Palestinian youth and children who were demonstrating approximately 200m south of the forces’ position at Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction. The child Mohammed Abdullah Younis, 14, from Al-Boreij refugee camp was wounded with a live bullet in the right foot.
In addition, at approximately 13:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces fired at PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis Abdel-Halim Abu Samra, 39, and an American journalist, Ron Warzer, a press photographer for The Seattle Times.
As part of a PCHR’s program to inform the international media about Israeli against Palestinian civilians and their property, Abu Samra was accompanying Warzer in order to acquaint him with Israeli leveling of Palestinian agricultural land and demolition of civilian facilities. The two were on a branch road east of Salah El-Din Street (the main street between the north and south of the Gaza Strip) which leads to Kissufim Crossing on the eastern borderline of the Gaza Strip.
According to Abu Samra, Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire from tank in order to drive them away from the area, forcing the two to immediately leave the area.
At approximately 22:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces started to indiscriminately shell Palestinian residential neighborhoods in Beit Jala City and Al-Khader village. The shelling lasted for approximately two hours, during which time the Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells, heavy caliber bullets, and medium caliber bullets from their positions west of Beit Jala and in Gilo settlement.
Ossama Mohammed Ibrahim El-Qorabi El-Massalma, 18, from Beit Jala, was killed when shelling of his family’s house in Al-Iraq neighborhood caused a wall to collapse on him. He was pulled with difficulty from under the debris of the completely destroyed house and transferred to hospital dead. Additionally, his father and mother were wounded with artillery shell shrapnel throughout the body.
Artillery shells also hit the house of Sa’d Ahmed Salah in Al-Khader village, destroying the second floor and wounding three members of the family.
This included the child Mohammed Ahmed Salah, 13, who was wounded with shrapnel in the extremities. The shelling resulted in slightly or moderately wounding 12 people and damaging five houses, in addition to the aforementioned two.
(15 feb) In the morning, the Israeli occupation forces reinforced their presence west of Khan Yunis refugee camp. Four tanks were seen entering military sites in the vicinity of Al-Tuffah roadblock, separating Khan Yunis from its Al-Mawasi (agricultural) area, under the control of the Israeli occupation forces. Those tanks were added to five stationary military sites surrounding Khan Yunis refugee camp from the north, the northwest, and the southwest.
They also established a new 20-m-long observation tower near Al-Tuffah roadblock. The tower is believed to be equipped with sophisticated technology, video cameras, and sophisticated weapons that can be controlled from the base of the tower.
On Tuesday, February 20, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces established another similar observation tower near a military site to the west of Al-Amal neighborhood.
19 feb 2001
At approximately 9:15 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned at Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction, willfully opened fire on a 70-year-old woman, although there were no clashes in the area at the time. Hakema Mosabbeh Suleiman Abu Khobbeiza “El-Khoratti,” 70, from the Al-Moghraqa area near Netzarim settlement was wounded with a live bullet in the right leg.
In her testimony to PCHR, “El-Khoratti” said that shortly after exiting the taxi in which was traveling from Nusseirat refugee camp to her residence, Israeli occupation soldiers fired two live bullets at her from a distance of 70m. One of these hit her right leg. Ten minutes later, a civilian car that happened to be passing the area transferred her to a clinic in Nusseirat refugee camp. From there, she was transferred to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City.
At approximately 12:30 local time, the Israeli forces committed yet another willful extra-judicial killing, this time against Mahmoud Suleiman El-Madani, 25, from Balatta refugee camp, a student at the College of Legislation of An-Najah National University in Nablus.
According to eyewitnesses, after El-Madani exited a mosque at the entrance of Balatta refugee camp, adjacent to the main Nablus-Ramallah road, a civilian car suddenly stopped. Two undercover armed persons exited the car and opened fire on El-Madani from a distance of only 10m. They then got in the car and fled the area.
Eyewitnesses said at the same time, Israeli forces positioned on Jerzim Mount opened fire, providing cover to protect the assassins and enabling them to flee. El-Madani was wounded with three live bullets in the chest and the abdomen. He was immediately evacuated to Rafidya hospital in Nablus, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 18:00 local time. Later, the Israeli occupation forces declared that an undercover unit committed the assassination. El-Madani was a political activist of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
At approximately 15:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the border opposite to Al-Salam neighborhood in Rafah, opened fire on a number of Palestinian children. As a result, Nahedh A’wwad El-Tarabin, 14, was wounded with shrapnel in the left foot.
PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that the child was passing a nearby street when Israeli soldiers fired upon him without provocation.
At approximately 19:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned in Psagot settlement, east of Al-Bireh, fired artillery shells, heavy caliber bullets, and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses and civilian facilities at both Al-Jenan neighborhood and Jabal Al-Tawil Street in Al-Bireh. The shelling, which lasted until 21:30 local time, caused severe damage to a number of houses. This includes the home of Bassel Sabri Al-Shawa, whose furniture partially burnt.
The shelling also targeted the National School for Blind Females, terrifying its 75 students and destroying walls of a bedroom, windows, water saving tanks, a water network and part of the furniture.
Furthermore, severe damage was caused to walls and water saving tanks of the headquarters of the Palestinian Poetry House at Jabal Al-Tawil Street.
In the morning, the Israeli occupation forces established a new military site at the branch road of Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip), leading to Kissufim Crossing on the eastern border of the Gaza Strip. The new site is approximately 70m to the east of Salah El-Din Street and was established on a 20-donum area of land owned by Khalaf Abu Hajjaj, that was razed by the Israeli occupation forces last November. On Tuesday, February 20, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces began establishing another military site located approximately 200m east of the previous one.
At approximately 7:15 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers violently beat two taxi drivers and at the entrance of Taqqou’ village near Jenin and detained them for several hours. As a result, the two received injuries and bruises throughout the body. They were:
1) Hussein Abu Salim, 25, from Taqqou’ village; and
2) Mohammed Taher Jalqoum, 42, from Taqqou’ village also.
At approximately 9:15 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned at Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction, willfully opened fire on a 70-year-old woman, although there were no clashes in the area at the time. Hakema Mosabbeh Suleiman Abu Khobbeiza “El-Khoratti,” 70, from the Al-Moghraqa area near Netzarim settlement was wounded with a live bullet in the right leg.
In her testimony to PCHR, “El-Khoratti” said that shortly after exiting the taxi in which was traveling from Nusseirat refugee camp to her residence, Israeli occupation soldiers fired two live bullets at her from a distance of 70m. One of these hit her right leg. Ten minutes later, a civilian car that happened to be passing the area transferred her to a clinic in Nusseirat refugee camp. From there, she was transferred to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City.
At approximately 12:30 local time, the Israeli forces committed yet another willful extra-judicial killing, this time against Mahmoud Suleiman El-Madani, 25, from Balatta refugee camp, a student at the College of Legislation of An-Najah National University in Nablus.
According to eyewitnesses, after El-Madani exited a mosque at the entrance of Balatta refugee camp, adjacent to the main Nablus-Ramallah road, a civilian car suddenly stopped. Two undercover armed persons exited the car and opened fire on El-Madani from a distance of only 10m. They then got in the car and fled the area.
Eyewitnesses said at the same time, Israeli forces positioned on Jerzim Mount opened fire, providing cover to protect the assassins and enabling them to flee. El-Madani was wounded with three live bullets in the chest and the abdomen. He was immediately evacuated to Rafidya hospital in Nablus, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 18:00 local time. Later, the Israeli occupation forces declared that an undercover unit committed the assassination. El-Madani was a political activist of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
At approximately 15:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the border opposite to Al-Salam neighborhood in Rafah, opened fire on a number of Palestinian children. As a result, Nahedh A’wwad El-Tarabin, 14, was wounded with shrapnel in the left foot.
PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that the child was passing a nearby street when Israeli soldiers fired upon him without provocation.
At approximately 19:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned in Psagot settlement, east of Al-Bireh, fired artillery shells, heavy caliber bullets, and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses and civilian facilities at both Al-Jenan neighborhood and Jabal Al-Tawil Street in Al-Bireh. The shelling, which lasted until 21:30 local time, caused severe damage to a number of houses. This includes the home of Bassel Sabri Al-Shawa, whose furniture partially burnt.
The shelling also targeted the National School for Blind Females, terrifying its 75 students and destroying walls of a bedroom, windows, water saving tanks, a water network and part of the furniture.
Furthermore, severe damage was caused to walls and water saving tanks of the headquarters of the Palestinian Poetry House at Jabal Al-Tawil Street.
In the morning, the Israeli occupation forces established a new military site at the branch road of Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip), leading to Kissufim Crossing on the eastern border of the Gaza Strip. The new site is approximately 70m to the east of Salah El-Din Street and was established on a 20-donum area of land owned by Khalaf Abu Hajjaj, that was razed by the Israeli occupation forces last November. On Tuesday, February 20, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces began establishing another military site located approximately 200m east of the previous one.
At approximately 7:15 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers violently beat two taxi drivers and at the entrance of Taqqou’ village near Jenin and detained them for several hours. As a result, the two received injuries and bruises throughout the body. They were:
1) Hussein Abu Salim, 25, from Taqqou’ village; and
2) Mohammed Taher Jalqoum, 42, from Taqqou’ village also.
18 feb 2001
At approximately 16:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the border in Rafah, opened fire on a number of Palestinian children in Al-Salam neighborhood, adjacent to the border. According to eyewitnesses, there were no clashes at the time. Children shouted at Israeli occupation soldiers positioned on a tank as it passed the border, near Palestinian houses in Al-Salam neighborhood. Although no threat was posed to their lives, the Israeli soldiers opened fire on Palestinian children, wounding four as follows:
1) Mahdi Nasser Omar, 15, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh which severed an artery. He was evacuated to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis and then to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City;
2) Ahmed Joma’a Abu Taha, 14, wounded with a live bullet in the back. He was evacuated to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis and then to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City, where medical sources stated that he suffered from hemophilia;
3) Asma’ Abdel-Hamid Qeshta, 18, wounded with shrapnel in the shoulder; and
4) Mohammed Ahmed Mattar, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the back.
At approximately 10:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned at Al-Tuffah roadblock and in the vicinity of Neve Dekalim settlement, west of Khan Yunis refugee camp, fired artillery shells, heavy caliber bullets, and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses. This lasted until 13:00 local time. During this period, Israeli occupation forces also fired four canisters containing a new and more virulent gas that was first used on February 12, 2001. The shelling resulted in wounding:
1) Nada Menwer Abu O’beida, 8, with shrapnel throughout the body; and
2) Suha Ghazi Abu A’kker, 10, with shrapnel in the neck.
According to the owner, at approximately 12:00 local time, an artillery shell hit the door of a store located approximately 250m to the east of Al-Tuffah roadblock. The artillery shell made a 25-cm hole and its shrapnel dispersed inside and outside the commercial store, wounding the aforementioned children. Additionally, the store’s contents were severely damaged.
Also, Yousef Suleiman Zourob, 67, was wounded with a live bullet in the left foot.
Furthermore, the physiotherapy department at the UNRWA’s clinic in Khan Yunis refugee camp was hit with two heavy caliber bullets. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that the 500 occupants, including patients and their visitors, were terrified. It is worth mentioning that UNRWA’s clinic had been fired upon previously during the few days before the incident.
At approximately 12:00 local time, Ahmed Ismail Farajallah, 35, from Ethna village near Hebron, was pronounced dead at Al-Mizan hospital in Hebron. He was critically wounded when the Israeli occupation forces shelled a cow farm in Hebron (see the above details).
At approximately 16:20 local time, the Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells, heavy caliber bullets, and medium caliber bullets at Khan Yunis refugee camp. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that these forces also fired a new and more virulent gas at Palestinian houses, forcing most civilians to leave their houses. The shelling, which lasted for 2.5 hours, wounded seven Palestinian civilians as follows:
1) Mohammed Khaled Abu A’rram, 8, wounded with shrapnel of a live bullet near the right eye;
2) Khaled A’tteya Sha’ath, 27, wounded with a live bullet in the right hand;
3) Jamal Mousa El-Sharif, 40, wounded with shrapnel in the foot;
4) Ahmed Mohareb Abu Sahloul, 16, wounded with shrapnel of an artillery shell in the back;
5) Ghassan Abdel-Jalil El-Salibi, 18, wounded with shrapnel of an artillery shell in the right shoulder;
6) Jehad Jamal Zaqqout, 12, wounded with shrapnel of an artillery shell in the right side; and
7) A’lla’ Fayez Saqer, 12, wounded with shrapnel in the face.
PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that 41 Palestinian civilians, mostly women and children, suffered from suffocation and spasms due to inhaling the highly effective gas. He added that 238 Palestinian civilians suffered from these symptoms inhalation of the gas during the period of February 12-20, 2001. Of these, 27 were still receiving medical treatment at of Palestine Red Crescent Society hospital and Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis.
Furthermore, a number of Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp and Al-Amal neighborhood were severely damaged after being hit with heavy and medium caliber bullets. This included two houses located approximately 120m to the east of the Israeli occupation forces’ position at Al-Tuffah roadblock and near Neve Dekalim settlement.
PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that these two houses were frequently shelled without justification over the past months. The two houses are:
1) A 250-square-meter, four-story house, in which 18 people used to live, owned by Abdullah and Ibrahim Hassan Abu O’beida, was partially destroyed after being with eight artillery shells. As a result of this and previous shelling, the house needs reconstruction.
2) A 130-square-meter, two-story house, in which 11 people used to live, was partially destroyed after having been hit with four artillery shells. As a result of this and previous shelling, the house needs reconstruction.
At approximately 16:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the border in Rafah, opened fire on a number of Palestinian children in Al-Salam neighborhood, adjacent to the border. According to eyewitnesses, there were no clashes at the time. Children shouted at Israeli occupation soldiers positioned on a tank as it passed the border, near Palestinian houses in Al-Salam neighborhood. Although no threat was posed to their lives, the Israeli soldiers opened fire on Palestinian children, wounding four as follows:
1) Mahdi Nasser Omar, 15, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh which severed an artery. He was evacuated to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis and then to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City;
2) Ahmed Joma’a Abu Taha, 14, wounded with a live bullet in the back. He was evacuated to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis and then to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City, where medical sources stated that he suffered from hemophilia;
3) Asma’ Abdel-Hamid Qeshta, 18, wounded with shrapnel in the shoulder; and
4) Mohammed Ahmed Mattar, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the back.
At approximately 10:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned at Al-Tuffah roadblock and in the vicinity of Neve Dekalim settlement, west of Khan Yunis refugee camp, fired artillery shells, heavy caliber bullets, and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses. This lasted until 13:00 local time. During this period, Israeli occupation forces also fired four canisters containing a new and more virulent gas that was first used on February 12, 2001. The shelling resulted in wounding:
1) Nada Menwer Abu O’beida, 8, with shrapnel throughout the body; and
2) Suha Ghazi Abu A’kker, 10, with shrapnel in the neck.
According to the owner, at approximately 12:00 local time, an artillery shell hit the door of a store located approximately 250m to the east of Al-Tuffah roadblock. The artillery shell made a 25-cm hole and its shrapnel dispersed inside and outside the commercial store, wounding the aforementioned children. Additionally, the store’s contents were severely damaged.
Also, Yousef Suleiman Zourob, 67, was wounded with a live bullet in the left foot.
Furthermore, the physiotherapy department at the UNRWA’s clinic in Khan Yunis refugee camp was hit with two heavy caliber bullets. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that the 500 occupants, including patients and their visitors, were terrified. It is worth mentioning that UNRWA’s clinic had been fired upon previously during the few days before the incident.
At approximately 12:00 local time, Ahmed Ismail Farajallah, 35, from Ethna village near Hebron, was pronounced dead at Al-Mizan hospital in Hebron. He was critically wounded when the Israeli occupation forces shelled a cow farm in Hebron (see the above details).
At approximately 16:20 local time, the Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells, heavy caliber bullets, and medium caliber bullets at Khan Yunis refugee camp. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that these forces also fired a new and more virulent gas at Palestinian houses, forcing most civilians to leave their houses. The shelling, which lasted for 2.5 hours, wounded seven Palestinian civilians as follows:
1) Mohammed Khaled Abu A’rram, 8, wounded with shrapnel of a live bullet near the right eye;
2) Khaled A’tteya Sha’ath, 27, wounded with a live bullet in the right hand;
3) Jamal Mousa El-Sharif, 40, wounded with shrapnel in the foot;
4) Ahmed Mohareb Abu Sahloul, 16, wounded with shrapnel of an artillery shell in the back;
5) Ghassan Abdel-Jalil El-Salibi, 18, wounded with shrapnel of an artillery shell in the right shoulder;
6) Jehad Jamal Zaqqout, 12, wounded with shrapnel of an artillery shell in the right side; and
7) A’lla’ Fayez Saqer, 12, wounded with shrapnel in the face.
PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that 41 Palestinian civilians, mostly women and children, suffered from suffocation and spasms due to inhaling the highly effective gas. He added that 238 Palestinian civilians suffered from these symptoms inhalation of the gas during the period of February 12-20, 2001. Of these, 27 were still receiving medical treatment at of Palestine Red Crescent Society hospital and Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis.
Furthermore, a number of Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp and Al-Amal neighborhood were severely damaged after being hit with heavy and medium caliber bullets. This included two houses located approximately 120m to the east of the Israeli occupation forces’ position at Al-Tuffah roadblock and near Neve Dekalim settlement.
PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that these two houses were frequently shelled without justification over the past months. The two houses are:
1) A 250-square-meter, four-story house, in which 18 people used to live, owned by Abdullah and Ibrahim Hassan Abu O’beida, was partially destroyed after being with eight artillery shells. As a result of this and previous shelling, the house needs reconstruction.
2) A 130-square-meter, two-story house, in which 11 people used to live, was partially destroyed after having been hit with four artillery shells. As a result of this and previous shelling, the house needs reconstruction.
17 feb 2001
At approximately 16:30 local time, Israeli forces positioned in Ramat Yisahi settlement, overlooking the center of Hebron, shelled Bab El-Zawia and El-Sheikh neighborhoods and Faisal Street in Hebron. The shelling which lasted for 1.5 hours, during which the Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells, heavy caliber bullets, and medium caliber bullets.
This resulted in wounding 11 Palestinian civilians while they were either inside their houses or on roads. It also severely damaged a number of houses. The wounded were:
1) Seham e’issa Jaradat, 45, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
2) Jehad Mohammed Ghaith, 36, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
3) Nader O’mran Shahin, 37, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
4) E’issa Ahmed Tannina, 40, wounded with shrapnel in the right leg;
5) Khaled A’rafa A’rafa, 15, wounded with shrapnel in the face;
6) Wadi’e A’wadh El-Haddad, 48, wounded with shrapnel in the shoulder and the chest;
7) Amena Khaled El-Shawish, 16, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
8) Fahed Abdel-Azzizz El-Natsheh; 24, wounded with shrapnel in the abdomen;
9) Nedhal Sae’id El-Haimouni, 24, wounded with shrapnel in the legs;
10) Beha’ A’tteya Eskafi, 13, wounded with shrapnel in the right hand; and
11) Zeidan Mohammed Eskafi, 20, wounded with shrapnel in the head.
At approximately 20:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces in the so-called “Tsheva” military site fired artillery shells, heavy caliber bullets, and medium caliber bullets at the Latin Patriarchy neighborhood in Jenin. The shelling also targeted Tayaseer elementary school, causing severe damage to its walls, windows, school equipment and water saving tanks.
Furthermore, Subeih Mohammed Subeih, 21, was wounded with a live bullet in the shoulder when he was passing near the area.
At approximately 16:30 local time, Israeli forces positioned in Ramat Yisahi settlement, overlooking the center of Hebron, shelled Bab El-Zawia and El-Sheikh neighborhoods and Faisal Street in Hebron. The shelling which lasted for 1.5 hours, during which the Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells, heavy caliber bullets, and medium caliber bullets.
This resulted in wounding 11 Palestinian civilians while they were either inside their houses or on roads. It also severely damaged a number of houses. The wounded were:
1) Seham e’issa Jaradat, 45, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
2) Jehad Mohammed Ghaith, 36, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
3) Nader O’mran Shahin, 37, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
4) E’issa Ahmed Tannina, 40, wounded with shrapnel in the right leg;
5) Khaled A’rafa A’rafa, 15, wounded with shrapnel in the face;
6) Wadi’e A’wadh El-Haddad, 48, wounded with shrapnel in the shoulder and the chest;
7) Amena Khaled El-Shawish, 16, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
8) Fahed Abdel-Azzizz El-Natsheh; 24, wounded with shrapnel in the abdomen;
9) Nedhal Sae’id El-Haimouni, 24, wounded with shrapnel in the legs;
10) Beha’ A’tteya Eskafi, 13, wounded with shrapnel in the right hand; and
11) Zeidan Mohammed Eskafi, 20, wounded with shrapnel in the head.
At approximately 20:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces in the so-called “Tsheva” military site fired artillery shells, heavy caliber bullets, and medium caliber bullets at the Latin Patriarchy neighborhood in Jenin. The shelling also targeted Tayaseer elementary school, causing severe damage to its walls, windows, school equipment and water saving tanks.
Furthermore, Subeih Mohammed Subeih, 21, was wounded with a live bullet in the shoulder when he was passing near the area.
16 feb 2001
At approximately 13:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on a number of Palestinian civilians. At the time, the civilians were demonstrating approximately 150m south of the road connecting Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip) with Netzarim settlement south of Gaza City. As a result, two Palestinian civilians were wounded and were evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. The wounded were:
1) Abdel-Rahman Mohammed El-Hajjar, 15, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh; and
2) Nasser El-Nabahin, 23, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head.
In the afternoon, a number of Palestinian youth demonstrated approximately 100m away from the Israeli occupation forces’ position, located near the Al-Simia area at the entrance of Al-Sammou’ village near Hebron. At approximately 14:30 local time, an Israeli sniper fired a live bullet at Mohammed Hussein Abu El-Jadayel, 25, from Al-Sammou’ village.
The bullet pierced his chest and exited his back, hitting the spinal column. According to medical sources at Al-Ahli hospital in Hebron, parts of his liver and spleen were also destroyed. He is still receiving medical treatment at the intensive care unit.
At approximately 16:30 local time, Khaled Ali Aqel, 30, from Al-Boreij refugee camp, was wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen, fired by Israeli forces at Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction, south of Gaza City.
In his testimony to PCHR, Aqel said that he was traveling by taxi from Al-Boreij refugee camp to Gaza City. Due to clashes between the Israeli occupation forces and Palestinian demonstrators, the driver stopped the taxi approximately 100m to the south of the junction and decided to travel back to Al-Boreij refugee camp. Aqel exited the taxi on the main road and waited for another taxi in order to travel to Gaza City. Then, Israeli occupation soldiers fired at him, wounding him with a live bullet in the abdomen. It is important to note that he had not participated in the clashes and was approximately 200m north of Palestinian demonstrators.
In the afternoon, Palestinian civilians in Deir Nezham village, west of Ramallah, confronted Israeli forces attempting to burst into their village. Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian children and youth who were throwing stones. Consequently, 14 were wounded, mostly children under 18. Among the wounded were:
1) Abdullah Tayseer El-A’araj, 16, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right hand;
2) Ahmed Mustafa Saleh, 12, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left hand;
3) Mohammed Nasser Mezher, 14, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right hand;
4) Abdullah Mustafa Saleh, 17, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the abdomen;
5) Jad Hussein Ziad, 21, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the testes;
6) Tariq Mahmoud Amir, 14, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the chest;
7) Hassan Ahmed E’id, 18, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the spinal column;
8) Fadhel Hussein Ziad, 26, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left foot;
9) Shaher Abdel-Qader Mosa’d, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the shoulder; and
10) Fadi Mohammed Mosa’d, 19, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left foot.
In the afternoon, clashes erupted between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli occupation forces at the northern entrance to Al-Bireh as well as in the center of Hebron. The Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian civilians, wounding six with live bullets and another 19 with rubber-coated metal bullets.
In addition, in the afternoon, at approximately 16:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, east of Gaza City, fired upon a number of Palestinian children who were demonstrating approximately 100m away from two tanks of these forces. As a result, three children were wounded.
One of the children, Mohammed Tayseer El-Abed Sa’d, 15, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded with an explosive live bullet in the buttocks and was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. The other two children were:
1) Hazem Mohammed Hassan Sa’d, 14, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head; and
2) Hassan Mohammed Ghazal, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head.
At approximately 3:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces reinforced with tanks and bulldozers burst into Al-Slalam neighborhood, adjacent to the border in Rafah, in order to raze areas of agricultural land and demolish a number of houses. They fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Al-Barazil and Al-Salam neighborhoods, wounding four Palestinian civilians. The civilians were in front of their homes at the time, having left them due to the shelling. The wounded were:
1) Mousa Hmadan Abu Mo’ammar, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the right leg;
2) Hassan Ibrahim El-Sattari, 19, wounded with shrapnel in the head; and
3) Mohieddin Ismail Mansour, 27, wounded with shrapnel in the head.
At approximately 13:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces shelled the area again, wounding two Palestinian civilians. The wounded were:
1) Yusri Hassan Owedha, 38, wounded with shrapnel in the left foot; and
2) Mohammed Jamil Abu Koush, 10, wounded with a live bullet in the left foot.
At approximately 9:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned west of Khan Yunis fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp.
At approximately 20:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces began shelling Khan Yunis refugee camp, lasting until 22:30 local time. Dozens of houses were severely damaged. Among them was a six-story house owned by O’udeh Abu A’kker, which penetrated the kitchen window of the third floor, on which his son, Farid’s six-member family live.
PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that the shell burnt the kitchen. Additionally, bullets hit the walls of the house, making 3-5cm holes and destroying a number of windows.
At approximately 15:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned both in “Beit Eil” and at the northern entrance of Al-Bireh, fired artillery shells, heavy caliber bullets and medium caliber bullets at Al-Balou’ neighborhood in Al-Bireh. This caused severe damage to the headquarters of the Palestinian Ministry of Local Government as well as several civilian buildings and facilities.
At approximately 20:45 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned at the center of Hebron indiscriminately shelled Palestinian houses in the city, killing two Palestinian civilians and wounding another five, one of whom was in critical condition. On his way back home in Talae’t El-Karantina Street opposite to the so-called “Avraham Avino settlement center.”
E’ssam Rashad El-Tawil, a 29-year-old Hebron Municipality employee, was killed with an explosive bullet in the chest.
Israeli forces in north Hebron shelled a cow farm owned by the Palestinian Islamic Charity Society and located northeast of Al-Rama neighborhood. Wounds from several heavy and medium caliber bullets in the chest and the abdomen killed Shaker Ya’qoub El-Manasra, a 23-year old farm worker from Bani Nae’im village, east of Hebron. Additionally, another two farm workers were wounded. They are:
1) Ahmed Ismail Frajallah, 35, from Ethna village, wounded with two live bullets in the neck and the abdomen; and
2) Yousef Suleiman El-Manasra, 30, wounded with a live bullet in the right shoulder and shrapnel in the left hand.
Also, as a result of indiscriminate shelling of Hebron, Malaka Ziad El-Bakri, 42, was wounded with shrapnel in the back, when a car in which she was traveling, was fired upon by Israeli forces.
Also, Ya’qoub and Nawal Hamdi Marar were wounded with shrapnel while they were at home in El-Karantina neighborhood.
On Friday, February 16, 2001, at approximately 11:00 local time, Abdel-Rahaman Mahmoud Joma’a, 76, from the village of Beit Lied in Tulkarm, died when the Israeli occupation forces obstructed his transfer to hospital. The deceased suffered from severe pains in the chest at 10:00 local time. His family intended to transfer him by a private car to hospital in Tulkarm.
However, Israeli occupation soldiers positioned at a roadblock at the southern entrance of Tulkarm prevented the passage of the car, despite having been warned of Joma’a critical condition. The soldiers allowed his transfer to hospital only if he were transferred in another car brought from Tulkarm. According to the patient’s companions, this unjustifiable measure caused a one-hour delay. The patient died on the way as he was being transferred to the hospital.
At approximately 11:30 local time, Mohammed Ahmed Abu Hemeida, 16, was riding his bicycle near his family’s house on the main road between Rafah and Khan Yunis, to the southwest of Morag settlement. A military jeep of the Israeli occupation forces deviated its course and ran over him. As a result, he suffered from breaks in the hand and bruises throughout the body. The soldiers left him lying on the ground without offering him any help. Passing Palestinian civilians evacuated him to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis where he was still receiving medical care.
At approximately 13:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on a number of Palestinian civilians. At the time, the civilians were demonstrating approximately 150m south of the road connecting Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip) with Netzarim settlement south of Gaza City. As a result, two Palestinian civilians were wounded and were evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. The wounded were:
1) Abdel-Rahman Mohammed El-Hajjar, 15, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh; and
2) Nasser El-Nabahin, 23, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head.
In the afternoon, a number of Palestinian youth demonstrated approximately 100m away from the Israeli occupation forces’ position, located near the Al-Simia area at the entrance of Al-Sammou’ village near Hebron. At approximately 14:30 local time, an Israeli sniper fired a live bullet at Mohammed Hussein Abu El-Jadayel, 25, from Al-Sammou’ village.
The bullet pierced his chest and exited his back, hitting the spinal column. According to medical sources at Al-Ahli hospital in Hebron, parts of his liver and spleen were also destroyed. He is still receiving medical treatment at the intensive care unit.
At approximately 16:30 local time, Khaled Ali Aqel, 30, from Al-Boreij refugee camp, was wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen, fired by Israeli forces at Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction, south of Gaza City.
In his testimony to PCHR, Aqel said that he was traveling by taxi from Al-Boreij refugee camp to Gaza City. Due to clashes between the Israeli occupation forces and Palestinian demonstrators, the driver stopped the taxi approximately 100m to the south of the junction and decided to travel back to Al-Boreij refugee camp. Aqel exited the taxi on the main road and waited for another taxi in order to travel to Gaza City. Then, Israeli occupation soldiers fired at him, wounding him with a live bullet in the abdomen. It is important to note that he had not participated in the clashes and was approximately 200m north of Palestinian demonstrators.
In the afternoon, Palestinian civilians in Deir Nezham village, west of Ramallah, confronted Israeli forces attempting to burst into their village. Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian children and youth who were throwing stones. Consequently, 14 were wounded, mostly children under 18. Among the wounded were:
1) Abdullah Tayseer El-A’araj, 16, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right hand;
2) Ahmed Mustafa Saleh, 12, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left hand;
3) Mohammed Nasser Mezher, 14, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right hand;
4) Abdullah Mustafa Saleh, 17, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the abdomen;
5) Jad Hussein Ziad, 21, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the testes;
6) Tariq Mahmoud Amir, 14, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the chest;
7) Hassan Ahmed E’id, 18, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the spinal column;
8) Fadhel Hussein Ziad, 26, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left foot;
9) Shaher Abdel-Qader Mosa’d, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the shoulder; and
10) Fadi Mohammed Mosa’d, 19, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left foot.
In the afternoon, clashes erupted between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli occupation forces at the northern entrance to Al-Bireh as well as in the center of Hebron. The Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian civilians, wounding six with live bullets and another 19 with rubber-coated metal bullets.
In addition, in the afternoon, at approximately 16:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, east of Gaza City, fired upon a number of Palestinian children who were demonstrating approximately 100m away from two tanks of these forces. As a result, three children were wounded.
One of the children, Mohammed Tayseer El-Abed Sa’d, 15, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded with an explosive live bullet in the buttocks and was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. The other two children were:
1) Hazem Mohammed Hassan Sa’d, 14, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head; and
2) Hassan Mohammed Ghazal, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head.
At approximately 3:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces reinforced with tanks and bulldozers burst into Al-Slalam neighborhood, adjacent to the border in Rafah, in order to raze areas of agricultural land and demolish a number of houses. They fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Al-Barazil and Al-Salam neighborhoods, wounding four Palestinian civilians. The civilians were in front of their homes at the time, having left them due to the shelling. The wounded were:
1) Mousa Hmadan Abu Mo’ammar, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the right leg;
2) Hassan Ibrahim El-Sattari, 19, wounded with shrapnel in the head; and
3) Mohieddin Ismail Mansour, 27, wounded with shrapnel in the head.
At approximately 13:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces shelled the area again, wounding two Palestinian civilians. The wounded were:
1) Yusri Hassan Owedha, 38, wounded with shrapnel in the left foot; and
2) Mohammed Jamil Abu Koush, 10, wounded with a live bullet in the left foot.
At approximately 9:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned west of Khan Yunis fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp.
At approximately 20:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces began shelling Khan Yunis refugee camp, lasting until 22:30 local time. Dozens of houses were severely damaged. Among them was a six-story house owned by O’udeh Abu A’kker, which penetrated the kitchen window of the third floor, on which his son, Farid’s six-member family live.
PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that the shell burnt the kitchen. Additionally, bullets hit the walls of the house, making 3-5cm holes and destroying a number of windows.
At approximately 15:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned both in “Beit Eil” and at the northern entrance of Al-Bireh, fired artillery shells, heavy caliber bullets and medium caliber bullets at Al-Balou’ neighborhood in Al-Bireh. This caused severe damage to the headquarters of the Palestinian Ministry of Local Government as well as several civilian buildings and facilities.
At approximately 20:45 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned at the center of Hebron indiscriminately shelled Palestinian houses in the city, killing two Palestinian civilians and wounding another five, one of whom was in critical condition. On his way back home in Talae’t El-Karantina Street opposite to the so-called “Avraham Avino settlement center.”
E’ssam Rashad El-Tawil, a 29-year-old Hebron Municipality employee, was killed with an explosive bullet in the chest.
Israeli forces in north Hebron shelled a cow farm owned by the Palestinian Islamic Charity Society and located northeast of Al-Rama neighborhood. Wounds from several heavy and medium caliber bullets in the chest and the abdomen killed Shaker Ya’qoub El-Manasra, a 23-year old farm worker from Bani Nae’im village, east of Hebron. Additionally, another two farm workers were wounded. They are:
1) Ahmed Ismail Frajallah, 35, from Ethna village, wounded with two live bullets in the neck and the abdomen; and
2) Yousef Suleiman El-Manasra, 30, wounded with a live bullet in the right shoulder and shrapnel in the left hand.
Also, as a result of indiscriminate shelling of Hebron, Malaka Ziad El-Bakri, 42, was wounded with shrapnel in the back, when a car in which she was traveling, was fired upon by Israeli forces.
Also, Ya’qoub and Nawal Hamdi Marar were wounded with shrapnel while they were at home in El-Karantina neighborhood.
On Friday, February 16, 2001, at approximately 11:00 local time, Abdel-Rahaman Mahmoud Joma’a, 76, from the village of Beit Lied in Tulkarm, died when the Israeli occupation forces obstructed his transfer to hospital. The deceased suffered from severe pains in the chest at 10:00 local time. His family intended to transfer him by a private car to hospital in Tulkarm.
However, Israeli occupation soldiers positioned at a roadblock at the southern entrance of Tulkarm prevented the passage of the car, despite having been warned of Joma’a critical condition. The soldiers allowed his transfer to hospital only if he were transferred in another car brought from Tulkarm. According to the patient’s companions, this unjustifiable measure caused a one-hour delay. The patient died on the way as he was being transferred to the hospital.
At approximately 11:30 local time, Mohammed Ahmed Abu Hemeida, 16, was riding his bicycle near his family’s house on the main road between Rafah and Khan Yunis, to the southwest of Morag settlement. A military jeep of the Israeli occupation forces deviated its course and ran over him. As a result, he suffered from breaks in the hand and bruises throughout the body. The soldiers left him lying on the ground without offering him any help. Passing Palestinian civilians evacuated him to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis where he was still receiving medical care.
15 feb 2001
Early in the morning, at approximately 4:00 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers positioned in Kfar Darom settlement opened fire on Nasser Mohammed Mohammed El-Hassanat, 19, from Deir El-Balah, killing him with several live bullets throughout the body. PCHR has been unable to obtain certain and complete information regarding the circumstances of the incident. Israeli forces claimed that El-Hassanat attempted to sneak into greenhouses east of Kfar Darom settlement. They kept El-Hassanat’s body until 14:00 local time.
In the afternoon, Israeli occupation forces positioned on Jerzim Mount in Nablus shelled the roof of a 15-story building in Al-Dhahia neighborhood in Nablus. The roof contained broadcasting equipment belonging to Nablus Television Channel, a private channel. The Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells, heavy caliber bullets, and medium caliber bullets, causing severe damage to the station as well as water saving tanks of the building.
At approximately 20:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned at Al-Tuffah roadblock, in the west of Khan Yunis, fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp.
PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that the forces also fired three canisters of a highly effective gas at the Palestinian houses. He added that Wardan Hassan El-Jed, 20, was wounded with shrapnel in the left foot.
Another 11 Palestinian civilians, mostly children, suffered from suffocation and spasms due to inhalation of the gas, which was first used by Israeli forces on February 12, 2001 (for more details about such gas and its unusual symptoms, see the previous Weekly Report by PCHR.) Furthermore, a number of Palestinian houses were severely damaged.
Medium caliber bullets also penetrated the windows of the Radiography Department of UNRWA’s clinic in Khan Yunis refugee camp.
In the afternoon, Israeli occupation soldiers detained for several hours and violently beat Nejem Mohammed Oweis, a 36-year-old teacher from the Eastern Lobban village in Nablus. After Oweis left school, Israeli occupation soldiers stopped him at the main road near the village and, without justification, beat him violently with their rifle butts. As a result, he suffered from breaks in the right hand as well as injuries and bruises throughout the body.
In the morning, the Israeli occupation forces reinforced their presence west of Khan Yunis refugee camp. Four tanks were seen entering military sites in the vicinity of Al-Tuffah roadblock, separating Khan Yunis from its Al-Mawasi (agricultural) area, under the control of the Israeli occupation forces. Those tanks were added to five stationary military sites surrounding Khan Yunis refugee camp from the north, the northwest, and the southwest.
They also established a new 20-m-long observation tower near Al-Tuffah roadblock. The tower is believed to be equipped with sophisticated technology, video cameras, and sophisticated weapons that can be controlled from the base of the tower.
On Tuesday, February 20, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces established another similar observation tower near a military site to the west of Al-Amal neighborhood.
Early in the morning, at approximately 4:00 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers positioned in Kfar Darom settlement opened fire on Nasser Mohammed Mohammed El-Hassanat, 19, from Deir El-Balah, killing him with several live bullets throughout the body. PCHR has been unable to obtain certain and complete information regarding the circumstances of the incident. Israeli forces claimed that El-Hassanat attempted to sneak into greenhouses east of Kfar Darom settlement. They kept El-Hassanat’s body until 14:00 local time.
In the afternoon, Israeli occupation forces positioned on Jerzim Mount in Nablus shelled the roof of a 15-story building in Al-Dhahia neighborhood in Nablus. The roof contained broadcasting equipment belonging to Nablus Television Channel, a private channel. The Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells, heavy caliber bullets, and medium caliber bullets, causing severe damage to the station as well as water saving tanks of the building.
At approximately 20:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned at Al-Tuffah roadblock, in the west of Khan Yunis, fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp.
PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that the forces also fired three canisters of a highly effective gas at the Palestinian houses. He added that Wardan Hassan El-Jed, 20, was wounded with shrapnel in the left foot.
Another 11 Palestinian civilians, mostly children, suffered from suffocation and spasms due to inhalation of the gas, which was first used by Israeli forces on February 12, 2001 (for more details about such gas and its unusual symptoms, see the previous Weekly Report by PCHR.) Furthermore, a number of Palestinian houses were severely damaged.
Medium caliber bullets also penetrated the windows of the Radiography Department of UNRWA’s clinic in Khan Yunis refugee camp.
In the afternoon, Israeli occupation soldiers detained for several hours and violently beat Nejem Mohammed Oweis, a 36-year-old teacher from the Eastern Lobban village in Nablus. After Oweis left school, Israeli occupation soldiers stopped him at the main road near the village and, without justification, beat him violently with their rifle butts. As a result, he suffered from breaks in the right hand as well as injuries and bruises throughout the body.
In the morning, the Israeli occupation forces reinforced their presence west of Khan Yunis refugee camp. Four tanks were seen entering military sites in the vicinity of Al-Tuffah roadblock, separating Khan Yunis from its Al-Mawasi (agricultural) area, under the control of the Israeli occupation forces. Those tanks were added to five stationary military sites surrounding Khan Yunis refugee camp from the north, the northwest, and the southwest.
They also established a new 20-m-long observation tower near Al-Tuffah roadblock. The tower is believed to be equipped with sophisticated technology, video cameras, and sophisticated weapons that can be controlled from the base of the tower.
On Tuesday, February 20, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces established another similar observation tower near a military site to the west of Al-Amal neighborhood.