2001
In 2001, Israeli occupation forces escalated their aggression against Palestinian civilians and their property in the OPT. Many Palestinians were killed in the policy of assassination formally adopted by the Israeli government. The Israeli forces employed weapons such as F-16 fighter jets and Apache combat helicopters to shell Palestinian civilian and security facilities in the attempt to destroy the Palestinian infrastructure. The Israeli forces also maintained a total siege on the OPT, restricting the movement of Palestinians and causing further economic and social deterioration.
Also in 2001, the Israeli forces excessively used lethal force against Palestinian peaceful demonstrations. The kind and number of deaths and injuries registered among Palestinian civilians in clashes with the Israeli forces indicate that the Israeli forces aimed to cause as many casualties as possible.
According to PCHR’s documentation, in 2001, 487 Palestinians were killed by Israeli occupation forces as a result of excessive use of force against demonstrators, shelling of Palestinian residential areas, or willful killing, or by Jewish settlers. The victims can be classified as follows:
v 466 were killed by Israeli occupation forces.
v 2 were killed by Israeli undercover units.
v 2 were killed by the Israeli police.
v 16 were killed by Jewish settlers.
v 1 was killed by an Israeli bank guard.
27 Palestinian civilians died after Israeli occupation forces at military roadblocks obstructed their evacuation to hospitals for emergency or regular medical treatment.
Of the total number of those killed in 2001, 33 were women, including 20 killed by Israeli occupation forces and Jewish settlers, 11 who died at Israeli military roadblocks and two who were killed in mysterious circumstances;
105 were Palestinian children under the age of 18, including 93 killed by Israeli occupation forces and Jewish settlers, 5 who died at Israeli military roadblocks and 7 who were killed in mysterious circumstances; 3 were journalists;
108 were members of the security services; 43 were Palestinian activists killed in political assassinations and 17 were bystanders also killed in political assassination attempts.
In 2001, Israeli occupation forces escalated their aggression against Palestinian civilians and their property in the OPT. Many Palestinians were killed in the policy of assassination formally adopted by the Israeli government. The Israeli forces employed weapons such as F-16 fighter jets and Apache combat helicopters to shell Palestinian civilian and security facilities in the attempt to destroy the Palestinian infrastructure. The Israeli forces also maintained a total siege on the OPT, restricting the movement of Palestinians and causing further economic and social deterioration.
Also in 2001, the Israeli forces excessively used lethal force against Palestinian peaceful demonstrations. The kind and number of deaths and injuries registered among Palestinian civilians in clashes with the Israeli forces indicate that the Israeli forces aimed to cause as many casualties as possible.
According to PCHR’s documentation, in 2001, 487 Palestinians were killed by Israeli occupation forces as a result of excessive use of force against demonstrators, shelling of Palestinian residential areas, or willful killing, or by Jewish settlers. The victims can be classified as follows:
v 466 were killed by Israeli occupation forces.
v 2 were killed by Israeli undercover units.
v 2 were killed by the Israeli police.
v 16 were killed by Jewish settlers.
v 1 was killed by an Israeli bank guard.
27 Palestinian civilians died after Israeli occupation forces at military roadblocks obstructed their evacuation to hospitals for emergency or regular medical treatment.
Of the total number of those killed in 2001, 33 were women, including 20 killed by Israeli occupation forces and Jewish settlers, 11 who died at Israeli military roadblocks and two who were killed in mysterious circumstances;
105 were Palestinian children under the age of 18, including 93 killed by Israeli occupation forces and Jewish settlers, 5 who died at Israeli military roadblocks and 7 who were killed in mysterious circumstances; 3 were journalists;
108 were members of the security services; 43 were Palestinian activists killed in political assassinations and 17 were bystanders also killed in political assassination attempts.
30 dec 2001
At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupation forces in the vicinity of “Gani Tal” settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, shelled Al-Satar Al-Gharbi area and Al-Amal neighborhood. A number of houses were severely damaged.
In the evening, in two separate incidents in the northern Gaza Strip, Israeli occupation forces killed six Palestinians, including three children. According to initial information, the victims were killed by artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets. Israeli occupation forces apparently did not resort to less lethal means.
In addition, conflicting statements made by the Israeli occupation forces raise suspicions that the deaths may have been willful killings.
According to initial investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 17:40, an Israeli occupation forces tank located in “Elli Sinai” settlement, southeast of Beit Lahia, fired four artillery shells at Beit Lahia and the Bedouin Village in the northern Gaza Strip.
Israeli occupation soldiers then opened fire from heavy and medium machine guns.
Later, the Israeli forces thrust approximately 1200m into rural areas in Beit Lahia. They took up position on a hill, on which a site of the Palestinian National Security Forces had stood before it was destroyed by the Israeli forces.
Thirty minutes later, the Israeli forces stated that they had killed three gunmen who were attempting to enter “Elli Sinai” settlement and that they had recovered the bodies. An Israeli radio station reported that Israeli soldiers fired at the three Palestinians, who were all children, and that knives were found near the bodies.
The bodies of the three children were handed to Palestinian officials late on Wednesday, 2 January 2002. They were identified as:
1) Mohammed Ahmed Lubbad, 17;
2) Mohammed ‘Abdel-Rahman El-Madhoun, 15; and
3) Ahmed Mohammed Banat, 15.
The three were from Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City.
At approximately 22:00, sounds of shooting and shelling were heard at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Beit Hanoun. Later, the Israeli military spokesman stated that Israeli occupation forces killed three Palestinians, claiming that they were attempting to sneak into Israel. The Israeli forces kept the bodies of the victims until 02:00 on the following day, when they handed them to the Palestinian side. The victims were:
1) Ismail Ahmed Abu El-Qumsan, 31, from Jabalya;
2) Mohammed Mahmoud Salah, 19, from Jabalya; and
3) ‘Ali As’ad Muhanna, 21, from Beit Lahia.
At approximately 01:15, Israeli occupation forces moved into Qeffin village, north of Tulkarm. They raided the house of Walid Mohammed Sabbbah.
They searched the house and beat three of his sons.
At approximately 11:00, Israeli occupation forces raided a Palestinian house in ‘Azzoun village in Qalqilya. The soldiers damaged the house whilst searching it. According to the owner, ‘Essam Yousef Hawari, the soldiers were searching for his son Qutaiba, 23.
When they left the house, the Israeli forces told Hawari to make his son surrender or they would raid the house again.
At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupation forces in the vicinity of “Gani Tal” settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, shelled Al-Satar Al-Gharbi area and Al-Amal neighborhood. A number of houses were severely damaged.
In the evening, in two separate incidents in the northern Gaza Strip, Israeli occupation forces killed six Palestinians, including three children. According to initial information, the victims were killed by artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets. Israeli occupation forces apparently did not resort to less lethal means.
In addition, conflicting statements made by the Israeli occupation forces raise suspicions that the deaths may have been willful killings.
According to initial investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 17:40, an Israeli occupation forces tank located in “Elli Sinai” settlement, southeast of Beit Lahia, fired four artillery shells at Beit Lahia and the Bedouin Village in the northern Gaza Strip.
Israeli occupation soldiers then opened fire from heavy and medium machine guns.
Later, the Israeli forces thrust approximately 1200m into rural areas in Beit Lahia. They took up position on a hill, on which a site of the Palestinian National Security Forces had stood before it was destroyed by the Israeli forces.
Thirty minutes later, the Israeli forces stated that they had killed three gunmen who were attempting to enter “Elli Sinai” settlement and that they had recovered the bodies. An Israeli radio station reported that Israeli soldiers fired at the three Palestinians, who were all children, and that knives were found near the bodies.
The bodies of the three children were handed to Palestinian officials late on Wednesday, 2 January 2002. They were identified as:
1) Mohammed Ahmed Lubbad, 17;
2) Mohammed ‘Abdel-Rahman El-Madhoun, 15; and
3) Ahmed Mohammed Banat, 15.
The three were from Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City.
At approximately 22:00, sounds of shooting and shelling were heard at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Beit Hanoun. Later, the Israeli military spokesman stated that Israeli occupation forces killed three Palestinians, claiming that they were attempting to sneak into Israel. The Israeli forces kept the bodies of the victims until 02:00 on the following day, when they handed them to the Palestinian side. The victims were:
1) Ismail Ahmed Abu El-Qumsan, 31, from Jabalya;
2) Mohammed Mahmoud Salah, 19, from Jabalya; and
3) ‘Ali As’ad Muhanna, 21, from Beit Lahia.
At approximately 01:15, Israeli occupation forces moved into Qeffin village, north of Tulkarm. They raided the house of Walid Mohammed Sabbbah.
They searched the house and beat three of his sons.
At approximately 11:00, Israeli occupation forces raided a Palestinian house in ‘Azzoun village in Qalqilya. The soldiers damaged the house whilst searching it. According to the owner, ‘Essam Yousef Hawari, the soldiers were searching for his son Qutaiba, 23.
When they left the house, the Israeli forces told Hawari to make his son surrender or they would raid the house again.
28 dec 2001
In Ramallah at approximately 12:30, Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration that moved to areas of the city which had been invaded by Israeli occupation forces since 13 December. Soon, two Israeli armored vehicles moved forward and Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas at the demonstrators. Five demonstrators and a foreign journalist were injured:
1) ‘Abdel-Jabbar Ahmed Abu Sneineh, 22, from Ramallah, injured by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right eye;
2) Hazem Jamil Abu ‘Eid, from Biddu village near Ramallah, injured by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head;
3) Tamer Mahmoud Zuhair, 16, from Al-Am’ari refugee camp, injured by a tear gas canister in the right hand;
4) Guevara Bassam Musleh, 18, injured by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the neck;
5) ‘Omar Nemer ‘Assaf, 51, injured by a tear gas canister in the right arm; and
6) Huyuku Uyshken, 36, a Japanese corespondent of the Weekly Post, suffered from tear gas inhalation.
At approximately 15:30, Israeli occupation forces at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire on Palestinian houses in Al-Brazil neighborhood.
Raghda Khalil Mansour, 26, was injured by two live bullets in the right leg and left thigh. She was hanging washing on a clothesline on the roof of her house when she was injured.
At approximately 19:00, Israeli occupation forces in a military location in Tal Zo’rob area in the southwest of Rafah opened fire on Palestinian homes in Tal Al-Sultan neighborhood.
A number of houses were damaged, but no casualties were reported.
In Ramallah at approximately 12:30, Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration that moved to areas of the city which had been invaded by Israeli occupation forces since 13 December. Soon, two Israeli armored vehicles moved forward and Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas at the demonstrators. Five demonstrators and a foreign journalist were injured:
1) ‘Abdel-Jabbar Ahmed Abu Sneineh, 22, from Ramallah, injured by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right eye;
2) Hazem Jamil Abu ‘Eid, from Biddu village near Ramallah, injured by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head;
3) Tamer Mahmoud Zuhair, 16, from Al-Am’ari refugee camp, injured by a tear gas canister in the right hand;
4) Guevara Bassam Musleh, 18, injured by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the neck;
5) ‘Omar Nemer ‘Assaf, 51, injured by a tear gas canister in the right arm; and
6) Huyuku Uyshken, 36, a Japanese corespondent of the Weekly Post, suffered from tear gas inhalation.
At approximately 15:30, Israeli occupation forces at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire on Palestinian houses in Al-Brazil neighborhood.
Raghda Khalil Mansour, 26, was injured by two live bullets in the right leg and left thigh. She was hanging washing on a clothesline on the roof of her house when she was injured.
At approximately 19:00, Israeli occupation forces in a military location in Tal Zo’rob area in the southwest of Rafah opened fire on Palestinian homes in Tal Al-Sultan neighborhood.
A number of houses were damaged, but no casualties were reported.
27 dec 2001
Early in the morning, six Israeli armored personnel carriers thrust approximately 200m into Al-Sha’er neighborhood, adjacent to the Egyptian border south of Rafah. Residents of the area fled their homes, fearing that the Israeli forces would demolish their houses. Dozens of Israeli soldiers entered six Palestinian houses, owned by the El-Sha’er, Zannoun, El-Hams and El-Quttati families, causing serious damage.
They also stole jewels owned by a woman whose house was raided. The incursion continued until 03:00.
At approximately 14:00, Israeli occupation soldiers in an armored personnel carrier on Mount Al-Tour in Nablus, fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at a number of Palestinian civilians at the center of the city, approximately 1500m away, seemingly without reason or provocation.
Saleh ‘Abdel-Rahman Zaki El-Ashqar, 17, from ‘Askar refugee camp, was injured by a medium caliber bullet in the right shoulder and shrapnel in the back.
At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupation forces, positioned near the eastern entrance of Qalqilya, arrested 30-year-old Nasrallah Mohammed El-Sha’er, from Qalqilya, while attempting to travel from the city together with his wife and children towards Ramallah, along a branch road.
According to eyewitnesses, he was severely beaten and taken to an unknown destination.
Early in the morning, six Israeli armored personnel carriers thrust approximately 200m into Al-Sha’er neighborhood, adjacent to the Egyptian border south of Rafah. Residents of the area fled their homes, fearing that the Israeli forces would demolish their houses. Dozens of Israeli soldiers entered six Palestinian houses, owned by the El-Sha’er, Zannoun, El-Hams and El-Quttati families, causing serious damage.
They also stole jewels owned by a woman whose house was raided. The incursion continued until 03:00.
At approximately 14:00, Israeli occupation soldiers in an armored personnel carrier on Mount Al-Tour in Nablus, fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at a number of Palestinian civilians at the center of the city, approximately 1500m away, seemingly without reason or provocation.
Saleh ‘Abdel-Rahman Zaki El-Ashqar, 17, from ‘Askar refugee camp, was injured by a medium caliber bullet in the right shoulder and shrapnel in the back.
At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupation forces, positioned near the eastern entrance of Qalqilya, arrested 30-year-old Nasrallah Mohammed El-Sha’er, from Qalqilya, while attempting to travel from the city together with his wife and children towards Ramallah, along a branch road.
According to eyewitnesses, he was severely beaten and taken to an unknown destination.
