4 sept 2002
At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and covered by intense gunfire, moved approximately 300m into Palestinian agricultural land west of “Kfar Darom” settlement in the east of Deir al-Balah. They searched the area and razed a 2-donums of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Maher Suleiman Abu Salim.
At approximately 22:00, Israeli occupying forces at the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, southeast of al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, shelled the camp.
An artillery shell hit a school, approximately 1000m away, destroying its gate. No casualties were reported as no student was at school at that time.
Another artillery shell hit a 3-story house owned by Ibrahim Darwish al-Qattawi, severely damaging it, but no casualties were reported.
At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and covered by intense gunfire, moved approximately 300m into Palestinian agricultural land west of “Kfar Darom” settlement in the east of Deir al-Balah. They searched the area and razed a 2-donums of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Maher Suleiman Abu Salim.
At approximately 22:00, Israeli occupying forces at the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, southeast of al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, shelled the camp.
An artillery shell hit a school, approximately 1000m away, destroying its gate. No casualties were reported as no student was at school at that time.
Another artillery shell hit a 3-story house owned by Ibrahim Darwish al-Qattawi, severely damaging it, but no casualties were reported.
3 sept 2002
Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Salam neighborhood in Rafah and began demolishing a family home over its residents without any prior warning. Israeli forces also prevented neighbors from offering help to the wounded who were eventually able to escape unaided from the demolished home.
According to eyewitnesses’ testimonies, at approximately 05:00, nine tanks and armored personnel carriers and a bulldozer of the Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 200m into al-Salam neighborhood in Rafah, adjacent to the Palestinian-Egyptian border.
The Israeli bulldozer began demolishing Fayez ‘Ali Mohammed Abu Hussein’s house while its inhabitants were sleeping. Although the owner screamed at the Israeli soldiers to stop the demolition, they did not stop. So, he called on neighbors to help him save his family. When some neighbors tried to offer help, Israeli soldiers fired at them. Neighbors again attempted to offer us help, but Israeli tanks fired at them. Israeli forces continued to fire at whoever tried to evacuate the family. Only one hour later, a number of neighbors and relatives were able to reach the house and evacuate all of my family. They were all taken to hospital in an ambulance and a number of civilian cars.
According to medical sources at Martyr Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah, six members of the family, who were wounded, were evacuated to the hospital:
1. Bahjat Fayez Abu Hussein, 20, wounded in the head, the right shoulder, the chest and the left hand;
2. Ahmed Fayez Abu Hussein, 17, wounded in the hands;
3. Majeda Radwan Abu Hussein, 42, wounded in the feet;
4. Nour Fayez Abu Hussein, 11, wounded in the head;
5. Hanan Fayez Abu Hussein, 3, wounded in the abdomen and the right foot;
6. Manal Fayez Abu Hussein, 2, wounded in the feet;
In addition, three members of the family suffered from shocked.
Another house, owned by Nidhal ‘Abdullah al-‘Emwasi, was also partially demolished in the incident. Abu Hussein and his family had been forced to evacuate the original family home on 2 May 2002, when Israeli occupying forces demolished it together with 11 other houses in al-Salam neighborhood. He was forced to move to another house which was then demolished on Tuesday
Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Salam neighborhood in Rafah and began demolishing a family home over its residents without any prior warning. Israeli forces also prevented neighbors from offering help to the wounded who were eventually able to escape unaided from the demolished home.
According to eyewitnesses’ testimonies, at approximately 05:00, nine tanks and armored personnel carriers and a bulldozer of the Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 200m into al-Salam neighborhood in Rafah, adjacent to the Palestinian-Egyptian border.
The Israeli bulldozer began demolishing Fayez ‘Ali Mohammed Abu Hussein’s house while its inhabitants were sleeping. Although the owner screamed at the Israeli soldiers to stop the demolition, they did not stop. So, he called on neighbors to help him save his family. When some neighbors tried to offer help, Israeli soldiers fired at them. Neighbors again attempted to offer us help, but Israeli tanks fired at them. Israeli forces continued to fire at whoever tried to evacuate the family. Only one hour later, a number of neighbors and relatives were able to reach the house and evacuate all of my family. They were all taken to hospital in an ambulance and a number of civilian cars.
According to medical sources at Martyr Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah, six members of the family, who were wounded, were evacuated to the hospital:
1. Bahjat Fayez Abu Hussein, 20, wounded in the head, the right shoulder, the chest and the left hand;
2. Ahmed Fayez Abu Hussein, 17, wounded in the hands;
3. Majeda Radwan Abu Hussein, 42, wounded in the feet;
4. Nour Fayez Abu Hussein, 11, wounded in the head;
5. Hanan Fayez Abu Hussein, 3, wounded in the abdomen and the right foot;
6. Manal Fayez Abu Hussein, 2, wounded in the feet;
In addition, three members of the family suffered from shocked.
Another house, owned by Nidhal ‘Abdullah al-‘Emwasi, was also partially demolished in the incident. Abu Hussein and his family had been forced to evacuate the original family home on 2 May 2002, when Israeli occupying forces demolished it together with 11 other houses in al-Salam neighborhood. He was forced to move to another house which was then demolished on Tuesday
2 sept 2002
At approximately 10:00, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved into Jenin. They opened fire at the central market of the town, wounding David Silver, a Swedish journalist, with a live bullet in the arm, while he was covering the Israeli incursion into the town.
Israeli occupying forces again used a Palestinian civilian as a human shield while chasing her brother in Kufor Ra’ei village, southwest of Jenin, to arrest him. According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 13:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and jeeps and supported by two helicopters, moved into Kufor Ra’ei village, south of Jenin.
They surrounded the house of Ra’ed Mohammed Murshed to arrest his brother-in-law Ghassan Mohammed Abu al-Haija, 32, from Jenin refugee camp. Three hours later, Israeli soldiers forced Murshed’s wife to get in a military jeep and call on her brother Ghassan to surrender to Israeli forces, and he did at 19:00.
In an apparent willful killing, Israeli occupying forces killed two Palestinian civilians in Burin village, south of Nablus, with two artillery shells.
According to information available to PCHR, while Baher ‘Adul Ra’ouf Ahmed ‘Eid , 24, and Hussein ‘Abdul Jabbar Hussein al-Najjar, 21, were in an animal farm owned by ‘Eid, Israeli occupying soldiers in a military location in the vicinity of “Brakha” settlement, north of Burin village, approximately 3km away, fired an artillery shell at them.
The two were instantly killed. Five minutes later, Israeli soldiers fired another shell at the farm. Israeli occupying forces claimed that Israeli soldiers in a military location “noticed two Palestinian gunmen who were on their way to carry out an armed attack, so they fired two shells at the two, and in the morning, they discovered the body of one of them.” An Israeli military spokesman claimed that “the other gunman was not apparently hurt and could escape taking his colleague’s gun.” However, villagers found bodies of the two young men in the site, contrary to Israeli claims.
After the incident, Israeli occupying forces moved into the village and imposed a curfew. They opened fire at houses, wounding Walid Jebril ‘Eid, 28, with a live bullet in the left leg.
At approximately 10:00, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved into Jenin. They opened fire at the central market of the town, wounding David Silver, a Swedish journalist, with a live bullet in the arm, while he was covering the Israeli incursion into the town.
Israeli occupying forces again used a Palestinian civilian as a human shield while chasing her brother in Kufor Ra’ei village, southwest of Jenin, to arrest him. According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 13:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and jeeps and supported by two helicopters, moved into Kufor Ra’ei village, south of Jenin.
They surrounded the house of Ra’ed Mohammed Murshed to arrest his brother-in-law Ghassan Mohammed Abu al-Haija, 32, from Jenin refugee camp. Three hours later, Israeli soldiers forced Murshed’s wife to get in a military jeep and call on her brother Ghassan to surrender to Israeli forces, and he did at 19:00.
In an apparent willful killing, Israeli occupying forces killed two Palestinian civilians in Burin village, south of Nablus, with two artillery shells.
According to information available to PCHR, while Baher ‘Adul Ra’ouf Ahmed ‘Eid , 24, and Hussein ‘Abdul Jabbar Hussein al-Najjar, 21, were in an animal farm owned by ‘Eid, Israeli occupying soldiers in a military location in the vicinity of “Brakha” settlement, north of Burin village, approximately 3km away, fired an artillery shell at them.
The two were instantly killed. Five minutes later, Israeli soldiers fired another shell at the farm. Israeli occupying forces claimed that Israeli soldiers in a military location “noticed two Palestinian gunmen who were on their way to carry out an armed attack, so they fired two shells at the two, and in the morning, they discovered the body of one of them.” An Israeli military spokesman claimed that “the other gunman was not apparently hurt and could escape taking his colleague’s gun.” However, villagers found bodies of the two young men in the site, contrary to Israeli claims.
After the incident, Israeli occupying forces moved into the village and imposed a curfew. They opened fire at houses, wounding Walid Jebril ‘Eid, 28, with a live bullet in the left leg.
1 sept 2002
At approximately 01:00, Israeli heavy military vehicles, covered by intense shelling, moved approximately 150m into ‘Omar Ben al-Khattab Street, adjacent to the Palestinian-Egyptian border south of Rafah. An artillery shell hit Bahlul fuel station burning two fuel machines, while another shell hit an electricity transmitter, cutting electricity from the area.
At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupying forces surrounded the house of Bassam al-Sa’di in Jenin refugee camp to arrest him. Israeli soldiers fired at the house. A number of Palestinian gunmen, including the owner’s son ‘Abdul Karim Bassam al-Sa’di, 16, exchanged fire with Israeli soldier. The son was wounded by a live bullet that entered the back and exited the chest. He succumbed to his wound upon arrival at hospital.
At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying forces on military vehicles opened fire at houses in the west of Jenin refugee camp, wounding a young man and a child:
1. Mu’ammar Asa’ad ‘Abdullah Sabbah, 21, wounded by a live bullet in the back; and
2. Rahaf Khalil Jarrar, 4, wounded by shrapnel in the left hand.
At approximately 15:00, medical sources at Rafidya Hospital in Nablus declared that Ghassan Hamdi Fares al-Shu’abi, 23, from Nablus, succumbed to a wound he received last week. Al-Shu’abi was seriously wounded by shrapnel in the head and the chest when an Israeli tank fired a shell at a number of Palestinian civilians in the old town of Nablus on 24 August 2002. Eight other civilians were also wounded.
In an apparent extrajudicial execution, Israeli occupying forces shot dead four Palestinian workers, including two twins, from al-Shioukh village east of Hebron:
Hussam Na’im Dhib Halaiqa, 30;
Hisham Na’im Dhib Halaiqa, 30;
‘Alaa’ ‘Aatef ‘Ayaida, 23; and
‘Attyea Ahmed Ibrahim Halaiqa, 25.
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 02:10, 4-5 Israeli soldiers raided the yard of Bani Na’im Marble Company, east of Hebron, and arrested four Palestinian civilians. Israeli soldiers took the four civilians away and shot them dead. Israeli occupying forces claimed that the four were on their way to carry out an armed attack, but the brother of one of the victims denied this as he saw Israeli soldiers arresting his brother together with the other three victims. He then heard sounds of shooting in the area to which Israeli soldiers took the four victims.
According to Dr. ‘Abed Rabbu Manasra, director of Palestine Red Crescent Society in Bani Na’im village, who checked the bodies of the victims before evacuating them to hospital, each of the victims was shot by at least ten live bullets, mostly in the head and the chest. The bodies were also distorted.
In his testimony to the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment (LAW), Ishaq Ahmed Ibrahim Halaiqa, from al-Shioukh village and the victims’ colleague, said:
“On Sunday, 1 September 2002, we finished our work at 02:00. We all sat in the front yard to have a meal. At approximately 02:10, I went to the bathroom. When I was back from the bathroom, I saw 4-5 Israeli soldiers stopping the four young men. There was a light outside which enabled me to see well. I was approximately 50m away from them and hid behind stones. I looked again and I saw the young men with their hands over thei heads and Israeli soldiers pointing their guns at them.
The Israeli soldiers took the young men to an area near the western entrance of Bani Na’im village. Ten minutes later, I went to the yard and then mounted the roof of offices which overlook the area where the Israeli soldiers took the young men. I was not able to see anything because it was dark. However, I heard a cry of agony. Two or three minutes later, I heard sounds of intense gunfire. I heard one of the young men calling on ‘Alaa’ ‘Ababda, but the voice soon quietened.
Five minutes later, two Israeli military vehicles arrived at the area. Israeli soldiers who came also opened fire. An Israeli soldier shouted in Hebrew. Israeli forces brought more reinforcements to the area. Then, I walked towards Bani Na’im village and then to al-Shioukh village. I arrived there at approximately 06:00. I listened to the Arabic news on the Israeli radio, which said that four ‘terrorists’ were killed in Bani Na’im area.
I realized that they were talking about my brother and colleagues. Then, I went with my relatives to Bani Na’im village and brought there bodies at approximately 10:00.”
At approximately 01:00, Israeli heavy military vehicles, covered by intense shelling, moved approximately 150m into ‘Omar Ben al-Khattab Street, adjacent to the Palestinian-Egyptian border south of Rafah. An artillery shell hit Bahlul fuel station burning two fuel machines, while another shell hit an electricity transmitter, cutting electricity from the area.
At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupying forces surrounded the house of Bassam al-Sa’di in Jenin refugee camp to arrest him. Israeli soldiers fired at the house. A number of Palestinian gunmen, including the owner’s son ‘Abdul Karim Bassam al-Sa’di, 16, exchanged fire with Israeli soldier. The son was wounded by a live bullet that entered the back and exited the chest. He succumbed to his wound upon arrival at hospital.
At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying forces on military vehicles opened fire at houses in the west of Jenin refugee camp, wounding a young man and a child:
1. Mu’ammar Asa’ad ‘Abdullah Sabbah, 21, wounded by a live bullet in the back; and
2. Rahaf Khalil Jarrar, 4, wounded by shrapnel in the left hand.
At approximately 15:00, medical sources at Rafidya Hospital in Nablus declared that Ghassan Hamdi Fares al-Shu’abi, 23, from Nablus, succumbed to a wound he received last week. Al-Shu’abi was seriously wounded by shrapnel in the head and the chest when an Israeli tank fired a shell at a number of Palestinian civilians in the old town of Nablus on 24 August 2002. Eight other civilians were also wounded.
In an apparent extrajudicial execution, Israeli occupying forces shot dead four Palestinian workers, including two twins, from al-Shioukh village east of Hebron:
Hussam Na’im Dhib Halaiqa, 30;
Hisham Na’im Dhib Halaiqa, 30;
‘Alaa’ ‘Aatef ‘Ayaida, 23; and
‘Attyea Ahmed Ibrahim Halaiqa, 25.
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 02:10, 4-5 Israeli soldiers raided the yard of Bani Na’im Marble Company, east of Hebron, and arrested four Palestinian civilians. Israeli soldiers took the four civilians away and shot them dead. Israeli occupying forces claimed that the four were on their way to carry out an armed attack, but the brother of one of the victims denied this as he saw Israeli soldiers arresting his brother together with the other three victims. He then heard sounds of shooting in the area to which Israeli soldiers took the four victims.
According to Dr. ‘Abed Rabbu Manasra, director of Palestine Red Crescent Society in Bani Na’im village, who checked the bodies of the victims before evacuating them to hospital, each of the victims was shot by at least ten live bullets, mostly in the head and the chest. The bodies were also distorted.
In his testimony to the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment (LAW), Ishaq Ahmed Ibrahim Halaiqa, from al-Shioukh village and the victims’ colleague, said:
“On Sunday, 1 September 2002, we finished our work at 02:00. We all sat in the front yard to have a meal. At approximately 02:10, I went to the bathroom. When I was back from the bathroom, I saw 4-5 Israeli soldiers stopping the four young men. There was a light outside which enabled me to see well. I was approximately 50m away from them and hid behind stones. I looked again and I saw the young men with their hands over thei heads and Israeli soldiers pointing their guns at them.
The Israeli soldiers took the young men to an area near the western entrance of Bani Na’im village. Ten minutes later, I went to the yard and then mounted the roof of offices which overlook the area where the Israeli soldiers took the young men. I was not able to see anything because it was dark. However, I heard a cry of agony. Two or three minutes later, I heard sounds of intense gunfire. I heard one of the young men calling on ‘Alaa’ ‘Ababda, but the voice soon quietened.
Five minutes later, two Israeli military vehicles arrived at the area. Israeli soldiers who came also opened fire. An Israeli soldier shouted in Hebrew. Israeli forces brought more reinforcements to the area. Then, I walked towards Bani Na’im village and then to al-Shioukh village. I arrived there at approximately 06:00. I listened to the Arabic news on the Israeli radio, which said that four ‘terrorists’ were killed in Bani Na’im area.
I realized that they were talking about my brother and colleagues. Then, I went with my relatives to Bani Na’im village and brought there bodies at approximately 10:00.”
31 aug 2002
At approximately 06:30, Israeli heavy military vehicles, covered by indiscriminate shelling, moved approximately 300m into al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. An Israeli armored military bulldozer leveled areas of agricultural land owned by the family of al-Sumeiri, which were razed several months ago.
At approximately 11:30, Israeli occupying forces surrounded a two-story house in al-Shurafa area in al-Bireh, owned by Nidhal Mohammed Jawdat Ghousha, 35. They ordered all those who were inside to get out. They arrested the owner and Sheikh Hssan Yousef, the spokesman of Hamas in the West Bank.
At approximately 21:30, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” and “Gani Tal” settlements shelled al-Amal neighborhood and al-Rabwat area in Khan Yunis. An artillery shell fell near the house of Ayman Ibrahim al-Hissi in al-Amal neighborhood, approximately 600m away from Israeli military locations.
Two of his children were wounded: Shadi, 14, seriously wounded by shrapnel in the chest; and Mohammed, 11, wounded by shrapnel in the left hand. A PCHR field officer reported that the two children were on their way to a nearby shop when the artillery shell fell near their house.
Two artillery shells also fell on a road in al-Amal neighborhood, wounding three Palestinian civilians:
1. ‘Ali Hassan Mohammed al-Zaqzuq, 17, wounded by shrapnel in the legs and the right thigh;
2. Darwish Mustafa Darwish al-‘Attal, 16, wounded by shrapnel in the chest and the right hand; and
3. Mohammed Fu’ad ‘Abdul Qader Jaber, 17, wounded by shrapnel in the chest.
In al-Rabwat area, six artillery shells hit three greenhouses planted with vegetables, owned by Yasser, Khalil and Ayman al-Astal, severely damaging it. A number of houses were also damaged and Palestinian civilians were extremely terrified.
At approximately 22:00, Israeli occupying forces in military locations near al-Matahen Company, northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at al-Jayaiwa area in al-Qarara village, wounding 23-year-old Sabah Jawad Adib Abu ‘Eid with shrapnel in the right hand, and damaging a number of houses.
Assassinations
In a continuation of the policy of assassination officially adopted by the Israeli government against Palestinian activists and political leaders, on Saturday, 31 August, the Israeli occupying forces conducted an assassination, in which a member of the Palestinian Military Intelligence Service and four children were killed and six others were wounded.
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 09:00 an Israeli scouting aircraft was seen flying over Tubas town in the northern Jordan Valley. The aircraft flew over the area until approximately 15:00 when it disappeared. At approximately 17:00, while a civilian car that had an Israeli number, a black Mitsubishi, was traveling on the main road in the east of Tubas, a populated area, two Israeli combat helicopters suddenly flew over the area and fired three missiles at the car.
The first missile hit the ground, approximately 30m away from the car, the second one hit the back side of the car, while the third one hit the car directly. Jihad Sawafta, 28, from Tubas, wanted by Israeli occupying forces, was traveling in the car but was able to escape when the first missile hit the ground. He was seriously wounded. When people heard sounds of explosions, they hurried towards the affected area. Medical and rescue personnel evacuated three burnt bodies from the car. The three persons were identified as:
1. Ra’fat Qadri ‘Abdul Latif Daraghma, 29, from Tubas town, a member of the Palestinian Military Intelligence Service who was wanted by Israeli occupying forces for having been a leader of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade in the area;
2. Sari ‘Abdul Karim Subeih, 17, from Tayaseer village; and
3. Yazid Yousef Mahmoud ‘Abdul Raziq, 16, from Tayaseer village.
Two children were also killed by shrapnel while they were near their houses in the eastern part of Tubas:
1. Ussama Ibrahim Mufleh Abu al-Zeit, 14, hit by shrapnel in the back; and
2. Bahira Burhan Abu al-Zeit, 7, hit by shrapnel in the chest and the abdomen.
In addition, five passing civilians were wounded:
1. Ahmed Samer Hisham, 7, from Tubas, seriously wounded by shrapnel in the abdomen;
2. Ibrahim Salama Abu ‘Aamer, 28, from Tubas, wounded by shrapnel in the right shoulder;
3. Nahla Salama Abu ‘Aamer, 40, from Jordan, who was in a visit to her relatives, wounded by shrapnel in the abdomen;
4. Sayel Mustafa Daraghma, 26, from Tubas, wounded by shrapnel in the head and the right shoulder; and
5. Mohammed ‘Ali Ibrahim Abu Muhsen, 25, from Tubas, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body
At approximately 06:30, Israeli heavy military vehicles, covered by indiscriminate shelling, moved approximately 300m into al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. An Israeli armored military bulldozer leveled areas of agricultural land owned by the family of al-Sumeiri, which were razed several months ago.
At approximately 11:30, Israeli occupying forces surrounded a two-story house in al-Shurafa area in al-Bireh, owned by Nidhal Mohammed Jawdat Ghousha, 35. They ordered all those who were inside to get out. They arrested the owner and Sheikh Hssan Yousef, the spokesman of Hamas in the West Bank.
At approximately 21:30, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” and “Gani Tal” settlements shelled al-Amal neighborhood and al-Rabwat area in Khan Yunis. An artillery shell fell near the house of Ayman Ibrahim al-Hissi in al-Amal neighborhood, approximately 600m away from Israeli military locations.
Two of his children were wounded: Shadi, 14, seriously wounded by shrapnel in the chest; and Mohammed, 11, wounded by shrapnel in the left hand. A PCHR field officer reported that the two children were on their way to a nearby shop when the artillery shell fell near their house.
Two artillery shells also fell on a road in al-Amal neighborhood, wounding three Palestinian civilians:
1. ‘Ali Hassan Mohammed al-Zaqzuq, 17, wounded by shrapnel in the legs and the right thigh;
2. Darwish Mustafa Darwish al-‘Attal, 16, wounded by shrapnel in the chest and the right hand; and
3. Mohammed Fu’ad ‘Abdul Qader Jaber, 17, wounded by shrapnel in the chest.
In al-Rabwat area, six artillery shells hit three greenhouses planted with vegetables, owned by Yasser, Khalil and Ayman al-Astal, severely damaging it. A number of houses were also damaged and Palestinian civilians were extremely terrified.
At approximately 22:00, Israeli occupying forces in military locations near al-Matahen Company, northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at al-Jayaiwa area in al-Qarara village, wounding 23-year-old Sabah Jawad Adib Abu ‘Eid with shrapnel in the right hand, and damaging a number of houses.
Assassinations
In a continuation of the policy of assassination officially adopted by the Israeli government against Palestinian activists and political leaders, on Saturday, 31 August, the Israeli occupying forces conducted an assassination, in which a member of the Palestinian Military Intelligence Service and four children were killed and six others were wounded.
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 09:00 an Israeli scouting aircraft was seen flying over Tubas town in the northern Jordan Valley. The aircraft flew over the area until approximately 15:00 when it disappeared. At approximately 17:00, while a civilian car that had an Israeli number, a black Mitsubishi, was traveling on the main road in the east of Tubas, a populated area, two Israeli combat helicopters suddenly flew over the area and fired three missiles at the car.
The first missile hit the ground, approximately 30m away from the car, the second one hit the back side of the car, while the third one hit the car directly. Jihad Sawafta, 28, from Tubas, wanted by Israeli occupying forces, was traveling in the car but was able to escape when the first missile hit the ground. He was seriously wounded. When people heard sounds of explosions, they hurried towards the affected area. Medical and rescue personnel evacuated three burnt bodies from the car. The three persons were identified as:
1. Ra’fat Qadri ‘Abdul Latif Daraghma, 29, from Tubas town, a member of the Palestinian Military Intelligence Service who was wanted by Israeli occupying forces for having been a leader of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade in the area;
2. Sari ‘Abdul Karim Subeih, 17, from Tayaseer village; and
3. Yazid Yousef Mahmoud ‘Abdul Raziq, 16, from Tayaseer village.
Two children were also killed by shrapnel while they were near their houses in the eastern part of Tubas:
1. Ussama Ibrahim Mufleh Abu al-Zeit, 14, hit by shrapnel in the back; and
2. Bahira Burhan Abu al-Zeit, 7, hit by shrapnel in the chest and the abdomen.
In addition, five passing civilians were wounded:
1. Ahmed Samer Hisham, 7, from Tubas, seriously wounded by shrapnel in the abdomen;
2. Ibrahim Salama Abu ‘Aamer, 28, from Tubas, wounded by shrapnel in the right shoulder;
3. Nahla Salama Abu ‘Aamer, 40, from Jordan, who was in a visit to her relatives, wounded by shrapnel in the abdomen;
4. Sayel Mustafa Daraghma, 26, from Tubas, wounded by shrapnel in the head and the right shoulder; and
5. Mohammed ‘Ali Ibrahim Abu Muhsen, 25, from Tubas, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body
30 aug 2002
At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces opened fire at houses in Jenin refugee camp, wounding 25-year-old ‘Alaa’ Farouq Mohammed Abu al-Haija with shrapnel in the chest.
At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying forces again shelled houses in Jenin refugee camp, wounding 15-year-old Nihad Jamil Hassan Salama with shrapnel in the head, while he was on the roof of his family’s house.
At approximately 11:00, during the curfew imposed on al-Am’ari refugee camp in Ramallah, a number of Palestinian boys and young men threw stones towards an Israeli military jeep that was patrolling in the camp. Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets at the stone throwers, wounding two:
1. Lu’ai ‘Abed Hammad, 20, wounded in the shoulder; and
2. Jihad Mohammed Abu Humeid, 14, wounded in the back.
At approximately 16:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 1200m into al-Manara neighborhood and Gizan al-Najjar area in the south of Khan Yunis. Israeli soldiers stationed at “Morag” settlement, south of Khan Yunis, searched the area and took up position on branch roads for approximately half an hour.
At approximately 17:45, while a number of Palestinian children were near their houses in the center of Jenin refugee camp, Israeli occupying soldiers fired at them from a distance of approximately 30m, claiming that they had broken the curfew imposed on the camp. Three children were wounded:
1. Mohammed Khaled Sa’ad Khalifa, 13, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg;
2. Aaya Mohammed Khaled Khalifa, 7, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg; and
3. Wa’el Jamil Nafe’ al-Sa’di, 16, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg.
At approximately 20:00, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Gani Tal” settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, and in a military site known as “al-Nouria,” west of al-Amal neighborhood, opened fire at al-Rabwat area and al-Amal neighborhood. Ahmed ‘Essam Hathat, 20, was wounded by shrapnel in the face.
Two hours later, Israeli occupying forces resumed shelling of the two areas, wounding 22-year-old Akram Mohammed Suleiman Abu Daoud with shrapnel in the chest, while he was on his way back home, approximately 300m southeast of the aforementioned settlement. In addition, an electricity tower was destroyed and electricity was cut from the area all night.
Two artillery shells hit a greenhouse planted with tomatoes owned by Yasser Ahmed ‘Awad al-Astal, severely damaging it. A number of houses were also damaged
At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces opened fire at houses in Jenin refugee camp, wounding 25-year-old ‘Alaa’ Farouq Mohammed Abu al-Haija with shrapnel in the chest.
At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying forces again shelled houses in Jenin refugee camp, wounding 15-year-old Nihad Jamil Hassan Salama with shrapnel in the head, while he was on the roof of his family’s house.
At approximately 11:00, during the curfew imposed on al-Am’ari refugee camp in Ramallah, a number of Palestinian boys and young men threw stones towards an Israeli military jeep that was patrolling in the camp. Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets at the stone throwers, wounding two:
1. Lu’ai ‘Abed Hammad, 20, wounded in the shoulder; and
2. Jihad Mohammed Abu Humeid, 14, wounded in the back.
At approximately 16:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 1200m into al-Manara neighborhood and Gizan al-Najjar area in the south of Khan Yunis. Israeli soldiers stationed at “Morag” settlement, south of Khan Yunis, searched the area and took up position on branch roads for approximately half an hour.
At approximately 17:45, while a number of Palestinian children were near their houses in the center of Jenin refugee camp, Israeli occupying soldiers fired at them from a distance of approximately 30m, claiming that they had broken the curfew imposed on the camp. Three children were wounded:
1. Mohammed Khaled Sa’ad Khalifa, 13, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg;
2. Aaya Mohammed Khaled Khalifa, 7, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg; and
3. Wa’el Jamil Nafe’ al-Sa’di, 16, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg.
At approximately 20:00, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Gani Tal” settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, and in a military site known as “al-Nouria,” west of al-Amal neighborhood, opened fire at al-Rabwat area and al-Amal neighborhood. Ahmed ‘Essam Hathat, 20, was wounded by shrapnel in the face.
Two hours later, Israeli occupying forces resumed shelling of the two areas, wounding 22-year-old Akram Mohammed Suleiman Abu Daoud with shrapnel in the chest, while he was on his way back home, approximately 300m southeast of the aforementioned settlement. In addition, an electricity tower was destroyed and electricity was cut from the area all night.
Two artillery shells hit a greenhouse planted with tomatoes owned by Yasser Ahmed ‘Awad al-Astal, severely damaging it. A number of houses were also damaged
29 aug 2002
At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces broke into al-Sayafa area between “Dogit” and “Elli Sinai” settlements, north of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. They raided and searched some houses of the al-Ghoul family. As they withdrew from the area, they arrested two members of the family:
1. Mahmoud ‘Eissa Mahmoud al-Ghoul, 16; and
2. Jaber Mahmoud Jaber al-Ghoul, 54.
At approximately 10:00, Israeli military vehicles, covered by intense shelling, moved approximately 150m into ‘Omar Ben al-Khattab Street near Salah al-Din Gate at the Palestinian-Egyptian border, south of Rafah. Israeli armored military bulldozers demolished 21 Palestinian stores, which had been closed since the beginning of the Intifada due to repeated Israeli shelling.
At approximately 11:00, Israeli soldiers fired at a video camera that belongs to Bassam Mohammed Mas’oud of Reuters news agency, set near Bahlul fuel station. From 14:00 to 20:00, Israeli occupying forces shelled the area, killing 14-year-old ‘Abdul Hadi Anwar al-Hamida with a live bullet in the head, and wounding eight other civilians, mostly children:
1. Mohammed Amin Shahin, 12, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the chest;
2. Ahmed Nabil Abu Lebda, 12, wounded by shrapnel in the face;
3. Shadi Na’im Abu ‘Anza, 14, wounded by shrapnel in the right arm;
4. Taha Mustafa Jaber, 12, wounded by a live bullet in the right elbow;
5. Naji Fu’ad Abu Jazar, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the pelvis;
6. Mohammed Mousa Abu Jazar, 17, wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh;
7. Ayman Isma’il al-Faramawi, 17, wounded by shrapnel in the chest and the limbs; and
8. Walid Hussein ‘Abdul ‘Aal, 20, wounded by shrapnel in the right foot.
At approximately 18:00, while an infantry unit of the Israeli occupying forces was patrolling at the eastern entrance of al-Am’ari refugee camp in Ramallah while a curfew was imposed on the area. Mohammed Hassan Jad al-Haq al-Toukhi, 15, threw stones towards Israeli soldiers, who responded by firing at him from a distance of approximately 60m, seriously wounding him with a rubber-coated metal bullet that entered the back and exited the abdomen. According to medical sources, the bullet damaged the intestines, the pancreas, and the spleen.
At the same time, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved into Jenin to re-impose a curfew. They opened fire at Palestinian houses, wounding 23-year-old Majdi Ibrahim Abu al-Sibaa’ with a live bullet in the right leg, while he was near his house.
At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupying forces surrounded the Palestinian security compound (Muqata’a) in Nablus. Then, they ordered the staff of the Palestine Crescent Society and residents of adjacent houses to open windows of these buildings. Soon, sounds of heavy explosions were heard. Israeli forces destroyed the northern part of Muqata’a and the headquarters of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior.
At approximately 21:30, Israeli occupying forces in a military site in Tal Zo’rob area in the southwest of Rafah opened fire at the opposite Zo’rob square. Bassem Mansour Rashwan, 27, was wounded by a live bullet in the left arm.
At approximately 23:00, Israeli occupying forces opened fire at houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp, wounding a Palestinian civilian and his daughter while inside their house:
1. ‘Afif Hussein Khalil Sarhan, 56, wounded by a live bullet in the neck; and
2. Fatema ‘Afif Hussein Sarhan, 10, wounded by shrapnel in the chest
At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces broke into al-Sayafa area between “Dogit” and “Elli Sinai” settlements, north of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. They raided and searched some houses of the al-Ghoul family. As they withdrew from the area, they arrested two members of the family:
1. Mahmoud ‘Eissa Mahmoud al-Ghoul, 16; and
2. Jaber Mahmoud Jaber al-Ghoul, 54.
At approximately 10:00, Israeli military vehicles, covered by intense shelling, moved approximately 150m into ‘Omar Ben al-Khattab Street near Salah al-Din Gate at the Palestinian-Egyptian border, south of Rafah. Israeli armored military bulldozers demolished 21 Palestinian stores, which had been closed since the beginning of the Intifada due to repeated Israeli shelling.
At approximately 11:00, Israeli soldiers fired at a video camera that belongs to Bassam Mohammed Mas’oud of Reuters news agency, set near Bahlul fuel station. From 14:00 to 20:00, Israeli occupying forces shelled the area, killing 14-year-old ‘Abdul Hadi Anwar al-Hamida with a live bullet in the head, and wounding eight other civilians, mostly children:
1. Mohammed Amin Shahin, 12, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the chest;
2. Ahmed Nabil Abu Lebda, 12, wounded by shrapnel in the face;
3. Shadi Na’im Abu ‘Anza, 14, wounded by shrapnel in the right arm;
4. Taha Mustafa Jaber, 12, wounded by a live bullet in the right elbow;
5. Naji Fu’ad Abu Jazar, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the pelvis;
6. Mohammed Mousa Abu Jazar, 17, wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh;
7. Ayman Isma’il al-Faramawi, 17, wounded by shrapnel in the chest and the limbs; and
8. Walid Hussein ‘Abdul ‘Aal, 20, wounded by shrapnel in the right foot.
At approximately 18:00, while an infantry unit of the Israeli occupying forces was patrolling at the eastern entrance of al-Am’ari refugee camp in Ramallah while a curfew was imposed on the area. Mohammed Hassan Jad al-Haq al-Toukhi, 15, threw stones towards Israeli soldiers, who responded by firing at him from a distance of approximately 60m, seriously wounding him with a rubber-coated metal bullet that entered the back and exited the abdomen. According to medical sources, the bullet damaged the intestines, the pancreas, and the spleen.
At the same time, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved into Jenin to re-impose a curfew. They opened fire at Palestinian houses, wounding 23-year-old Majdi Ibrahim Abu al-Sibaa’ with a live bullet in the right leg, while he was near his house.
At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupying forces surrounded the Palestinian security compound (Muqata’a) in Nablus. Then, they ordered the staff of the Palestine Crescent Society and residents of adjacent houses to open windows of these buildings. Soon, sounds of heavy explosions were heard. Israeli forces destroyed the northern part of Muqata’a and the headquarters of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior.
At approximately 21:30, Israeli occupying forces in a military site in Tal Zo’rob area in the southwest of Rafah opened fire at the opposite Zo’rob square. Bassem Mansour Rashwan, 27, was wounded by a live bullet in the left arm.
At approximately 23:00, Israeli occupying forces opened fire at houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp, wounding a Palestinian civilian and his daughter while inside their house:
1. ‘Afif Hussein Khalil Sarhan, 56, wounded by a live bullet in the neck; and
2. Fatema ‘Afif Hussein Sarhan, 10, wounded by shrapnel in the chest
28 aug 2002
At approximately 15:30, two Israeli tanks moved into Jenin refugee camp. They opened fire at Palestinian houses for no apparent reason. One of the tanks fired approximately 25 live bullets at the house of Mohammed ‘Abdul Rahman ‘Ammuri, 33. A live bullet penetrated a window of the house and hit ‘Ammuri in the head, killing him.
Furthermore, Israeli occupying forces killed four Palestinian civilians, including a woman and her two sons, and wounding other members belonging to the same family.
According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 23:00, Israeli occupying forces in military locations next to “Netzarim” settlement, south of Gaza City, fired an artillery shell at six Palestinian civilians who were in a shed on their agricultural land in Sheikh ‘Ejlin area, approximately 250m away. The artillery shell hit them all and killed three:
1. Ashraf ‘Othman al-Hajin, 23;
2. Nihad ‘Othman al-Hajin, 17; and
3. Mohammed Samir al-Hajin, 41.
Soon after, Rowaida Ibrahim al-Hajin, 41, got out of shed carrying her 3-year-old child Sa’id to check what happened. Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire at her, wounding her with several live bullets throughout the body, and wounding her child with shrapnel. She bled to death.
Palestinian ambulances came to the area, but Israeli forces fired at them and prevented them from evacuating the victims. At approximately 01:00 on the following day, and upon coordination between Israeli occupying forces and the Palestinian side through the ICRC, the ambulances were allowed access to the area. The woman was still alive, but she succumbed to her wounds upon arrival at the hospital. Four civilians were also wounded:
1. Sa’id ‘otham al-Hajin, 3, the woman’s child, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;
2. Salah ‘Othman al-Hajin, 15, the woman’s child, seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;
3. Ra’fat ‘Othman al-Hajin, 24, the woman’s son, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body; and
4. Mohammed Hashem al-Hajin, 20, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body.
In what it appears to be a willful killing, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian young man while he was throwing stones towards them.
According to PCHR, at approximately 11:00, Mohammed ‘Atteya Baraka, 24, from Deir al-Balah, was on the coastal road next to the Israeli “Aloni” military checkpoint, which divides al-Mawasi area between Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis. He threw stones towards Israeli soldiers at the checkpoint, while he was approximately 400m far. Israeli soldiers fired at him without any warning. He was shot in the upper part of the body. Israeli soldiers took him to their military locations.
Two hours later, Israeli forces delivered his body to the Palestinian side. The body was evacuated to the hospital, where medical sources stated that Baraka was killed by a live bullet in the neck. In the afternoon, an Israeli military spokesman claimed that Baraka was killed in an exchange of fire in the vicinity of “Gush Qatif” settlement block.
According to eyewitnesses, Barak rode a bike to the area without having any kind of weapons. He was not a member of any organization or political party.
At approximately 15:30, two Israeli tanks moved into Jenin refugee camp. They opened fire at Palestinian houses for no apparent reason. One of the tanks fired approximately 25 live bullets at the house of Mohammed ‘Abdul Rahman ‘Ammuri, 33. A live bullet penetrated a window of the house and hit ‘Ammuri in the head, killing him.
Furthermore, Israeli occupying forces killed four Palestinian civilians, including a woman and her two sons, and wounding other members belonging to the same family.
According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 23:00, Israeli occupying forces in military locations next to “Netzarim” settlement, south of Gaza City, fired an artillery shell at six Palestinian civilians who were in a shed on their agricultural land in Sheikh ‘Ejlin area, approximately 250m away. The artillery shell hit them all and killed three:
1. Ashraf ‘Othman al-Hajin, 23;
2. Nihad ‘Othman al-Hajin, 17; and
3. Mohammed Samir al-Hajin, 41.
Soon after, Rowaida Ibrahim al-Hajin, 41, got out of shed carrying her 3-year-old child Sa’id to check what happened. Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire at her, wounding her with several live bullets throughout the body, and wounding her child with shrapnel. She bled to death.
Palestinian ambulances came to the area, but Israeli forces fired at them and prevented them from evacuating the victims. At approximately 01:00 on the following day, and upon coordination between Israeli occupying forces and the Palestinian side through the ICRC, the ambulances were allowed access to the area. The woman was still alive, but she succumbed to her wounds upon arrival at the hospital. Four civilians were also wounded:
1. Sa’id ‘otham al-Hajin, 3, the woman’s child, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;
2. Salah ‘Othman al-Hajin, 15, the woman’s child, seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;
3. Ra’fat ‘Othman al-Hajin, 24, the woman’s son, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body; and
4. Mohammed Hashem al-Hajin, 20, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body.
In what it appears to be a willful killing, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian young man while he was throwing stones towards them.
According to PCHR, at approximately 11:00, Mohammed ‘Atteya Baraka, 24, from Deir al-Balah, was on the coastal road next to the Israeli “Aloni” military checkpoint, which divides al-Mawasi area between Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis. He threw stones towards Israeli soldiers at the checkpoint, while he was approximately 400m far. Israeli soldiers fired at him without any warning. He was shot in the upper part of the body. Israeli soldiers took him to their military locations.
Two hours later, Israeli forces delivered his body to the Palestinian side. The body was evacuated to the hospital, where medical sources stated that Baraka was killed by a live bullet in the neck. In the afternoon, an Israeli military spokesman claimed that Baraka was killed in an exchange of fire in the vicinity of “Gush Qatif” settlement block.
According to eyewitnesses, Barak rode a bike to the area without having any kind of weapons. He was not a member of any organization or political party.
27 aug 2002
In the morning, Israeli occupying forces launched a campaign of arrests against leaders of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFPL) in Ramallah and al-Bireh. They arrested Bashir Ahmed Kamel al-Khairi, member of the Palestinian National Council and one of the leaders of the PFLP.
At approximately 03:30, Israeli occupying forces raided the house of ‘Ali Mohammed Ahmed Jaradat, 47, from Ramallah, spokesman of the PFLP. They forced him out of the house and arrested him.
At the same time, Israeli occupying forces raided the house of Saqer Mohammed Hamdan Hanacha, 41, activist of the PFLP who works in Ramallah Municipality, and arrested him.
In the morning, Israeli occupying forces launched a campaign of arrests against leaders of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFPL) in Ramallah and al-Bireh. They arrested Bashir Ahmed Kamel al-Khairi, member of the Palestinian National Council and one of the leaders of the PFLP.
At approximately 03:30, Israeli occupying forces raided the house of ‘Ali Mohammed Ahmed Jaradat, 47, from Ramallah, spokesman of the PFLP. They forced him out of the house and arrested him.
At the same time, Israeli occupying forces raided the house of Saqer Mohammed Hamdan Hanacha, 41, activist of the PFLP who works in Ramallah Municipality, and arrested him.
26 aug 2002
At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and supported by two helicopters, invaded Jenin refugee camp. They surrounded three houses owned by Mahmoud Khader Esteiti, Jom’a Khalifa Abu Jabal and Mohammed ‘Omar Esteiti in the refugee camp. They called on residents of the houses through loudspeakers to exit their houses and gather in a public yard. At approximately 11:00, Israeli soldiers used Mohammed ‘Omar Esteiti, 26, as a human shield and forced him to enter his house and bring out all those who were inside without the upper clothes. They threatened to destroy the house. Soon, three Palestinians got out:
1. Sheikh Jamal ‘Abdul Salam Abu al-Haija, 43;
2. Islam Jarrar, 25; and
3. Maisara ‘Omar Kahder Esteiti, 22.
They were all wearing underwear. Israeli soldiers forced Abu al-Haija to get rid of his plastic hand and leave it aside. Then, they destroyed the hand. Israeli forces severely beat the three before arresting them. Before their withdrawal, Israeli forces shelled at the house of Mohammed ‘Omar Esteiti, causing a fire inside the house.
At approximately 13:45, about 15 minutes before re-imposing the curfew on Ramallah, two Israeli military jeeps moved into the centre of the town and fired at Palestinian civilians passing by. Six civilians, including a journalist, were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets:
1. ‘Ammar Mohammed ‘Awadh, 23, from Jerusalem, a photographer of Reuters news agency, wounded in the left shoulder;
2. Kamel Ahmed Kamel al-Zein, 16, from Ramallah, wounded in the left hand;
3. ‘Adnan ‘Eissa Ahmed Mutair, 28, from Bani Na’im village in Hebron, wounded in the left leg;
4. Mustafa Mohammed Mustafa Za’ouri, 16, from Ramallah, wounded in the right leg;
5. Rula Khaled Abu Shousha, 24, wounded in the right hand; and
6. Zeidan Mohammed Ahmed Shureih, 33, wounded in the right leg.
In his testimony to the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment (LAW), Mahoud Makhlouf, a reporter of the Palestinian News Agency (Wafa), said:
“At approximately 13:45 on Monday, 26 August 2002, when the curfew imposed on Ramallah was temporarily lifted, two Israeli military jeeps arrived at al-Manara square. Israeli soldiers opened fire indiscriminately at people passing by. Soon, a number of children gathered near a bus station in the area and threw stones towards the two jeeps. Me and some journalists, ‘Ammar ‘Awadh, a photographer of Reuters news agency; ‘Abbas al-Mumani, a photographer of France Press Agency; and a photographer of CNN called Susan, were photographing the clashes from a distance of approximately 50m. Unjustifiably, an Israeli soldier fired at us, wounding ‘Awadh with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left shoulder.”
At approximately 21:45, Israeli occupying forces in military locations at the southeastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Rafah, opened fire at al-Shouka neighborhood in Rafah.
Mohammed Hammad ‘ouda al-Debari, 19, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head while he was in his family’s agricultural land.
Attacks by Settlers on Palestinian Civilians
At approximately 10:00 on Monday, while 6-year-old Jihad Mousa Mohammed al-‘Athra, from Yatta village south of Hebron, was crossing a settler road crossing al-Diwan neighborhood in the village, an Israeli garbage vehicle, driving very fast, ran over the child. The driver did not stop, nor did he offer help for the child, who immediately died.
Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Palestinians Who Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of the international law and humanitarian law which prohibit collective punishment, for the fourth consecutive week, Israeli occupying forces has taken retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who have carried attacks against Israeli targets both inside the Green Line and in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
This is a violation of Article 33 of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, which prohibits punishing any protected person for an offense he or she has not personally committed, and Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which provides that “no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile,”
At approximately 03:00 on Monday morning, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and supported by two helicopters, moved into al-Jarad farm, east of Tulkarm. They raided the two-story house of Mu’ath Jarad, whose first floor was rented by the family of Mansour Shureim, wanted by Israeli occupying forces for his activities during the Intifada. Israeli soldiers forced the ten residents of the house out and planted bombs on the first floor. Then, they destroyed it by remote control.
At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and supported by two helicopters, invaded Jenin refugee camp. They surrounded three houses owned by Mahmoud Khader Esteiti, Jom’a Khalifa Abu Jabal and Mohammed ‘Omar Esteiti in the refugee camp. They called on residents of the houses through loudspeakers to exit their houses and gather in a public yard. At approximately 11:00, Israeli soldiers used Mohammed ‘Omar Esteiti, 26, as a human shield and forced him to enter his house and bring out all those who were inside without the upper clothes. They threatened to destroy the house. Soon, three Palestinians got out:
1. Sheikh Jamal ‘Abdul Salam Abu al-Haija, 43;
2. Islam Jarrar, 25; and
3. Maisara ‘Omar Kahder Esteiti, 22.
They were all wearing underwear. Israeli soldiers forced Abu al-Haija to get rid of his plastic hand and leave it aside. Then, they destroyed the hand. Israeli forces severely beat the three before arresting them. Before their withdrawal, Israeli forces shelled at the house of Mohammed ‘Omar Esteiti, causing a fire inside the house.
At approximately 13:45, about 15 minutes before re-imposing the curfew on Ramallah, two Israeli military jeeps moved into the centre of the town and fired at Palestinian civilians passing by. Six civilians, including a journalist, were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets:
1. ‘Ammar Mohammed ‘Awadh, 23, from Jerusalem, a photographer of Reuters news agency, wounded in the left shoulder;
2. Kamel Ahmed Kamel al-Zein, 16, from Ramallah, wounded in the left hand;
3. ‘Adnan ‘Eissa Ahmed Mutair, 28, from Bani Na’im village in Hebron, wounded in the left leg;
4. Mustafa Mohammed Mustafa Za’ouri, 16, from Ramallah, wounded in the right leg;
5. Rula Khaled Abu Shousha, 24, wounded in the right hand; and
6. Zeidan Mohammed Ahmed Shureih, 33, wounded in the right leg.
In his testimony to the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment (LAW), Mahoud Makhlouf, a reporter of the Palestinian News Agency (Wafa), said:
“At approximately 13:45 on Monday, 26 August 2002, when the curfew imposed on Ramallah was temporarily lifted, two Israeli military jeeps arrived at al-Manara square. Israeli soldiers opened fire indiscriminately at people passing by. Soon, a number of children gathered near a bus station in the area and threw stones towards the two jeeps. Me and some journalists, ‘Ammar ‘Awadh, a photographer of Reuters news agency; ‘Abbas al-Mumani, a photographer of France Press Agency; and a photographer of CNN called Susan, were photographing the clashes from a distance of approximately 50m. Unjustifiably, an Israeli soldier fired at us, wounding ‘Awadh with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left shoulder.”
At approximately 21:45, Israeli occupying forces in military locations at the southeastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Rafah, opened fire at al-Shouka neighborhood in Rafah.
Mohammed Hammad ‘ouda al-Debari, 19, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head while he was in his family’s agricultural land.
Attacks by Settlers on Palestinian Civilians
At approximately 10:00 on Monday, while 6-year-old Jihad Mousa Mohammed al-‘Athra, from Yatta village south of Hebron, was crossing a settler road crossing al-Diwan neighborhood in the village, an Israeli garbage vehicle, driving very fast, ran over the child. The driver did not stop, nor did he offer help for the child, who immediately died.
Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Palestinians Who Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of the international law and humanitarian law which prohibit collective punishment, for the fourth consecutive week, Israeli occupying forces has taken retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who have carried attacks against Israeli targets both inside the Green Line and in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
This is a violation of Article 33 of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, which prohibits punishing any protected person for an offense he or she has not personally committed, and Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which provides that “no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile,”
At approximately 03:00 on Monday morning, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and supported by two helicopters, moved into al-Jarad farm, east of Tulkarm. They raided the two-story house of Mu’ath Jarad, whose first floor was rented by the family of Mansour Shureim, wanted by Israeli occupying forces for his activities during the Intifada. Israeli soldiers forced the ten residents of the house out and planted bombs on the first floor. Then, they destroyed it by remote control.
25 aug 2002
At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and accompanied by some members of the Israeli General Security Service, raided the house of al-‘Alim Younis Da’na, writer and political analyst, in ‘Ein Khair al-Din in the centre of Hebron and arrested him. According to eyewitnesses, some 50 Israeli soldiers and officers raided the house and forced its seven residents out. They searched the house and confiscated a number of disks and a mobile phone.
Da’na is a member of the political bureau of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and lecturer at the Polytechnic University. He had been detained in Israeli jails for 14 years. He was released in 1985. He had also been held in administrative detention for three years during the first Palestinian Intifada. He suffers from a disease in the stomach and hypertension.
At approximately 02:30, Israeli occupying forces raided the house of ‘Emad ‘Awni Kamel Abu Shamsia, 32, in Khellat Hadour area in the east of Hebron, and arrested him.
At approximately 07:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, invaded Jenin and imposed a curfew. They opened fire at the central market of the town, wounding three Palestinian civilians:
1. Ahmed Raja Ibrahim ‘Awartani, 12, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh;
2. Ahmed ‘Adnan Ibrahim ‘Awartani, 13, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh; and
3. Mohammed Khaled Mustafa Abu al-Rub, 26, wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh.
At approximately 11:30, Israeli occupying forces in military locations next to “Netser Hazani” settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, fired, for no apparent reason, at two Palestinian children who were selling vegetables on a cart in a muddy road, approximately 40m east of the settlement. One of the children, Mohammed Younis Yousef Abu Lehia, 14, was wounded by a heavy caliber bullet in the left foot, and their donkey was killed.
In the afternoon, Israeli occupying forces in military locations at the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Khuza’a village in Khan Yunis, opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians who were checking the destruction in the area caused by Israeli forces on the previous day. Manal Salim Mohammed Qaudeih, 31, was wounded by shrapnel in the back.
At approximately 17:00, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 400m east of a settler road linking between al-Shuhada junction, south of Gaza City, and al-Mentar crossing, east of the city. They razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land
At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and accompanied by some members of the Israeli General Security Service, raided the house of al-‘Alim Younis Da’na, writer and political analyst, in ‘Ein Khair al-Din in the centre of Hebron and arrested him. According to eyewitnesses, some 50 Israeli soldiers and officers raided the house and forced its seven residents out. They searched the house and confiscated a number of disks and a mobile phone.
Da’na is a member of the political bureau of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and lecturer at the Polytechnic University. He had been detained in Israeli jails for 14 years. He was released in 1985. He had also been held in administrative detention for three years during the first Palestinian Intifada. He suffers from a disease in the stomach and hypertension.
At approximately 02:30, Israeli occupying forces raided the house of ‘Emad ‘Awni Kamel Abu Shamsia, 32, in Khellat Hadour area in the east of Hebron, and arrested him.
At approximately 07:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, invaded Jenin and imposed a curfew. They opened fire at the central market of the town, wounding three Palestinian civilians:
1. Ahmed Raja Ibrahim ‘Awartani, 12, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh;
2. Ahmed ‘Adnan Ibrahim ‘Awartani, 13, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh; and
3. Mohammed Khaled Mustafa Abu al-Rub, 26, wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh.
At approximately 11:30, Israeli occupying forces in military locations next to “Netser Hazani” settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, fired, for no apparent reason, at two Palestinian children who were selling vegetables on a cart in a muddy road, approximately 40m east of the settlement. One of the children, Mohammed Younis Yousef Abu Lehia, 14, was wounded by a heavy caliber bullet in the left foot, and their donkey was killed.
In the afternoon, Israeli occupying forces in military locations at the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Khuza’a village in Khan Yunis, opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians who were checking the destruction in the area caused by Israeli forces on the previous day. Manal Salim Mohammed Qaudeih, 31, was wounded by shrapnel in the back.
At approximately 17:00, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 400m east of a settler road linking between al-Shuhada junction, south of Gaza City, and al-Mentar crossing, east of the city. They razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land
24 aug 2002
At approximately 14:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and three armored bulldozers, and covered by indiscriminate shelling, moved approximately 900m into ‘Abasan and Khuza’a villages, east of Khan Yunis. In six hours, the Israeli bulldozers razed 69 donums agricultural land and large area planted with wild figs.
At approximately 14:40, Israeli occupying forces raided a Palestinian police station in al-Haras area in Hebron. They held and beat policemen who were inside the station in civilian clothes, together with a number of civilians. Upon their withdrawal from the area, they arrested 24-year-old Marwan Mousa ‘Awadh Jamjum.
At approximately 16:00, an Israeli tank positioned at al-Shuhada’ square in the centre of Nablus, fired an artillery shell at a number of Palestinian civilians, mostly children, who were in an alley leading to the old town. Nine civilians were wounded:
1. Ghassan Hamdi al-Shua’bi, 27, seriously wounded by shrapnel in the head and the chest;
2. Nassim Farouq Ja’ara, 18, seriously wounded by shrapnel in the head and the chest;
3. Tha’er Fathi Nasser, 12, wounded by shrapnel in the limbs;
4. Mohammed Jihad al-Natur, 10, wounded by shrapnel in the hands;
5. Mohammed Muti’ al-Saber, 15, wounded by shrapnel in the chest;
6. Ahmed Suleiman Hamed, 19, wounded by shrapnel in the left leg;
7. Nassim ‘Abdul Fattah ‘Adas, 13, wounded by shrapnel in the feet;
8. ‘Emad Ahmed Qandil, 16, wounded by shrapnel in the face and the neck; and
9. Jihad Bassem Qaddumi, 14, wounded by shrapnel in the right thigh.
At approximately 20:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and covered by intense shelling, moved in Wad ‘Ezziddin area east of Jenin and imposed a curfew. A number of Palestinian gunmen confronted the invading Israeli forces. One of the gunmen, Mohammed Hatem al-‘Aat, 26, was killed by a live bullet that entered the left shoulder and settled in the chest. In addition, five Palestinian civilians were wounded by the Israeli shelling:
1. Jawad Mustafa Hamran, 20, wounded by a heavy caliber bullet that cut an artery in the right hand;
2. Rushdi Mohammed Jabarin, 20, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;
3. Seif Khaled Taha Ahmed, 17, wounded by shrapnel in the chest;
4. Salah Mufid Mohammed Salama, 61, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body; and
5. ‘Abdullah Nasser al-Wahesh, 20, wounded by shrapnel in the face and the neck.
At approximately 14:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and three armored bulldozers, and covered by indiscriminate shelling, moved approximately 900m into ‘Abasan and Khuza’a villages, east of Khan Yunis. In six hours, the Israeli bulldozers razed 69 donums agricultural land and large area planted with wild figs.
At approximately 14:40, Israeli occupying forces raided a Palestinian police station in al-Haras area in Hebron. They held and beat policemen who were inside the station in civilian clothes, together with a number of civilians. Upon their withdrawal from the area, they arrested 24-year-old Marwan Mousa ‘Awadh Jamjum.
At approximately 16:00, an Israeli tank positioned at al-Shuhada’ square in the centre of Nablus, fired an artillery shell at a number of Palestinian civilians, mostly children, who were in an alley leading to the old town. Nine civilians were wounded:
1. Ghassan Hamdi al-Shua’bi, 27, seriously wounded by shrapnel in the head and the chest;
2. Nassim Farouq Ja’ara, 18, seriously wounded by shrapnel in the head and the chest;
3. Tha’er Fathi Nasser, 12, wounded by shrapnel in the limbs;
4. Mohammed Jihad al-Natur, 10, wounded by shrapnel in the hands;
5. Mohammed Muti’ al-Saber, 15, wounded by shrapnel in the chest;
6. Ahmed Suleiman Hamed, 19, wounded by shrapnel in the left leg;
7. Nassim ‘Abdul Fattah ‘Adas, 13, wounded by shrapnel in the feet;
8. ‘Emad Ahmed Qandil, 16, wounded by shrapnel in the face and the neck; and
9. Jihad Bassem Qaddumi, 14, wounded by shrapnel in the right thigh.
At approximately 20:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and covered by intense shelling, moved in Wad ‘Ezziddin area east of Jenin and imposed a curfew. A number of Palestinian gunmen confronted the invading Israeli forces. One of the gunmen, Mohammed Hatem al-‘Aat, 26, was killed by a live bullet that entered the left shoulder and settled in the chest. In addition, five Palestinian civilians were wounded by the Israeli shelling:
1. Jawad Mustafa Hamran, 20, wounded by a heavy caliber bullet that cut an artery in the right hand;
2. Rushdi Mohammed Jabarin, 20, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;
3. Seif Khaled Taha Ahmed, 17, wounded by shrapnel in the chest;
4. Salah Mufid Mohammed Salama, 61, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body; and
5. ‘Abdullah Nasser al-Wahesh, 20, wounded by shrapnel in the face and the neck.
23 aug 2002
At approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 100m into Palestinian areas west of “Kfar Darom” settlement in the east of Deir al-Balah. Two Israeli armored military bulldozers demolished two houses and a brick factory.
At approximately 13:00, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 900m into ‘Abasan village, east of Khan Yunis. They razed 25 donums of Palestinian agricultural land and large areas planted with wild figs.
At approximately 17:00, Israeli occupying forces in a military location in Tal Zo’rob area southwest of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses located opposite to the military outpost, wounding 30-year-old Mousa Mahmoud Zo’rob with a live bullet in the left leg.
At approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 100m into Palestinian areas west of “Kfar Darom” settlement in the east of Deir al-Balah. Two Israeli armored military bulldozers demolished two houses and a brick factory.
At approximately 13:00, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 900m into ‘Abasan village, east of Khan Yunis. They razed 25 donums of Palestinian agricultural land and large areas planted with wild figs.
At approximately 17:00, Israeli occupying forces in a military location in Tal Zo’rob area southwest of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses located opposite to the military outpost, wounding 30-year-old Mousa Mahmoud Zo’rob with a live bullet in the left leg.
22 aug 2002
At approximately 16:00, Israeli occupying forces, accompanied by a bulldozer, moved approximately 150m into Palestinian agricultural land north and east of “Kfar Darom” settlement in the east of Deir al-Balah. The bulldozer razed several areas of agricultural land:
At approximately 16:00, Israeli occupying forces, accompanied by a bulldozer, moved approximately 150m into Palestinian agricultural land north and east of “Kfar Darom” settlement in the east of Deir al-Balah. The bulldozer razed several areas of agricultural land:
21 aug 2002
At approximately 01:30, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, shelled Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp. At the same time, two Israeli combat helicopters flew over the area. Half an hour later, the helicopter opened fire at houses and streets to cover an incursion by approximately eight Israeli heavy military vehicles and two bulldozers into the refugee camp. The military vehicles moved towards the refugee camp opening fire indiscriminately. In the meantime, Israeli forces called through loudspeakers on Palestinian civilians to leave their houses. After the people left, the Israeli military bulldozers started leveling the area surrounding the refugee camp. Israeli forces also destroyed the main electricity transmitter, cutting electricity from the whole town.
At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces raided the house of ‘Abdullah and Ibrahim Shureiqi Abu ‘Obeida, approximately 100m away from the aforementioned settlement. Residents of the four-story house had already left it due to repeated Israeli shelling of the area. Israeli forces planted bombs inside the house and destroyed it. Four neighboring houses were completely destroyed and six other were partially destroyed.
During the destruction, 17-year-old Khaled Sa’id ‘Ayash was wounded by shrapnel from the Israeli shelling. After having destroyed the house, Israeli tanks resumed shelling of the area, damaging a number of houses inhabited by civilians. A mosque, approximately 300m away from the aforementioned settlement, was also severely damaged. Furthermore, Israeli tanks shelled concrete blocks where members of the Palestinian National Security Force use to take position.
Israeli military bulldozers also swept parts of the main road. Before they withdrew from the area, at approximately 05:30, Israeli forces raided the house of heirs of ‘Ali Hassan al-Tabash, located approximately 100m away from the settlement. They planted bombs in the six-story house, in which four families, comprising of 15 persons, live, and then withdrew from the area. After the withdrawal, Palestinian civilians gathered to check what happened. Soon, Israeli forces destroyed the aforementioned house by remote control. The house and a number of neighboring houses were completely destroyed.
A wall of the house fell over a number of Palestinian civilians in the area, killing 26-year-old ‘Adnan Hussein Hassan Bureis. In addition, five civilians, including two of Bureis’ brothers and his nephew, were wounded:
1. Mohammed Hussein Bureis, 19, wounded by shrapnel in the shoulder;
2. ‘Alaa’ Hussein Bureis, 18, wounded by shrapnel in the ear;
3. Hussein Mahmoud Bureis, 13, wounded by shrapnel in the knee;
4. Hamza Manar Abu ‘Arqub, 15, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body and sustained a fracture in the right hand; and
5. Sha’ban Jamil al-Tabash, 17, wounded by shrapnel in the right foot and the head.
At approximately 07:00, Israeli occupying soldiers on a moveable observation tower in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement opened fire at Palestinian civilians who were trying to save whatever remained of their houses.
At approximately 01:30, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, shelled Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp. At the same time, two Israeli combat helicopters flew over the area. Half an hour later, the helicopter opened fire at houses and streets to cover an incursion by approximately eight Israeli heavy military vehicles and two bulldozers into the refugee camp. The military vehicles moved towards the refugee camp opening fire indiscriminately. In the meantime, Israeli forces called through loudspeakers on Palestinian civilians to leave their houses. After the people left, the Israeli military bulldozers started leveling the area surrounding the refugee camp. Israeli forces also destroyed the main electricity transmitter, cutting electricity from the whole town.
At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces raided the house of ‘Abdullah and Ibrahim Shureiqi Abu ‘Obeida, approximately 100m away from the aforementioned settlement. Residents of the four-story house had already left it due to repeated Israeli shelling of the area. Israeli forces planted bombs inside the house and destroyed it. Four neighboring houses were completely destroyed and six other were partially destroyed.
During the destruction, 17-year-old Khaled Sa’id ‘Ayash was wounded by shrapnel from the Israeli shelling. After having destroyed the house, Israeli tanks resumed shelling of the area, damaging a number of houses inhabited by civilians. A mosque, approximately 300m away from the aforementioned settlement, was also severely damaged. Furthermore, Israeli tanks shelled concrete blocks where members of the Palestinian National Security Force use to take position.
Israeli military bulldozers also swept parts of the main road. Before they withdrew from the area, at approximately 05:30, Israeli forces raided the house of heirs of ‘Ali Hassan al-Tabash, located approximately 100m away from the settlement. They planted bombs in the six-story house, in which four families, comprising of 15 persons, live, and then withdrew from the area. After the withdrawal, Palestinian civilians gathered to check what happened. Soon, Israeli forces destroyed the aforementioned house by remote control. The house and a number of neighboring houses were completely destroyed.
A wall of the house fell over a number of Palestinian civilians in the area, killing 26-year-old ‘Adnan Hussein Hassan Bureis. In addition, five civilians, including two of Bureis’ brothers and his nephew, were wounded:
1. Mohammed Hussein Bureis, 19, wounded by shrapnel in the shoulder;
2. ‘Alaa’ Hussein Bureis, 18, wounded by shrapnel in the ear;
3. Hussein Mahmoud Bureis, 13, wounded by shrapnel in the knee;
4. Hamza Manar Abu ‘Arqub, 15, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body and sustained a fracture in the right hand; and
5. Sha’ban Jamil al-Tabash, 17, wounded by shrapnel in the right foot and the head.
At approximately 07:00, Israeli occupying soldiers on a moveable observation tower in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement opened fire at Palestinian civilians who were trying to save whatever remained of their houses.