15 apr 2002
Operation Defencive shield
At approximately 03:00 on Monday, Israeli occupation forces positioned near a mosque in al-Obeidia village, east of Bethlehem, fired an artillery shell at a civilian car, in which Mohammed Ahmed Abu Muhareb, 29, traveled home. Abu Muhareb was killed by shrapnel throughout the body.
At approximately 08:30, Israeli occupation forces broke into an apartment building in al-Duha village, south of Beit Jala, and opened fire at residents of the building.
Rana Sa’di al-Karaja, 24, was killed by several live bullets in the head and the chest and two other Palestinian civilians were wounded. According to LAW’s information, Israeli forces arrested the wounded and took the body of the woman.
They have maintained a strict siege on the building, which includes 26 flats. They have terrified residents of the building, claiming that some wanted Palestinians were inside the building.
Also on Monday morning, the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that Israeli occupation forces had prevented all attempts made by medical personnel to save lives of a Palestinian who was wounded four days earlier, and some patients who had been besieged inside the Church of the Nativity.
Dr, Mousa Abu Humeid, Director General of West Bank hospitals stated that Israeli forces deliberately prevented the evacuation to hospital of Tamer al-Kusba, who was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen four days earlier. Abu Humeid added that there were some patients in the church who were badly in need of regular medical treatment.
Israeli forces denied the access of medical personnel to the church. On the same day, Israeli forces denied the access of medical personnel to al-Duha village in Bethlehem to evacuate the wounded.
On Monday afternoon, around 100 Israeli soldiers were airdropped from helicopters and deployed into the villages of al-Sadda, Fuqiqis, Kharsa, al-Tabaqa and Deir al-‘Asal. According to eyewitnesses, they combed the hills around these villages and destroyed caves without any prior warning and without checking if there were any living creatures inside. Villagers usually use caves for their animals.
Also on Monday afternoon, Israeli occupation forces moved into Dura village. They opened fire indiscriminately at Palestinian civilians, wounding 16. They also imposed a curfew on the village, denying the access of Palestinians who were at their work to their houses. Israeli forces denied access of ambulances to four of the wounded.
They also blocked an ambulance.
On Monday morning, Israeli occupation forces raided and searched Palestinian houses in Far’oun village, which had been under a curfew for more than 10 days. The curfew was only lifted for two hours during this period and Palestinian civilians were not able to go to Tulkarm to buy supplies.
At the same time, Israeli occupation forces raided and searched Palestinian houses in Deir al-Ghosoun village, which had been under a curfew for more than two weeks.
Also on Monday morning, Israeli occupation forces imposed a curfew on ‘Allar vilage, north of Tulkarm. Israeli forces positioned at the entrances to Tulkarm fired indiscriminately at Palestinian civilians who attempted to enter or leave the city.
At approximately 02:30, Israeli occupation forces in the vicinity of Salah al-Din Gate at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at the nearby Palestinian houses.
A number of houses were severely damaged and 42-year-old Hassan Sha’ban Abu Ghali was wounded by shrapnel in the left foot while at home.
At approximately 03:00, after an exchange of fire between a group of Palestinian gunmen and Israeli occupation forces, a unit of Israeli troops moved approximately 1500m into al-Heker area in the east of Deir al-Balah and opened fire indiscriminately.
A Palestinian security man was killed and another one was wounded. According to PCHR’s investigation,
‘Alla’ Ahmed al-Aa’raj, 22, a member of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service, and
Mohammed Suleiman Abu ‘Amra, 26 a member of the Palestinian National Security Force,
were on duty in the area in civilian clothes. Israeli forces opened fire at them as soon as they noticed them. Al-Aa’raj was killed by three live bullets in the chest and Abu ‘Amra was wounded by several live bullets in the right foot.
At approximately 14:30, Israeli occupation forces in the vicinity of “Nissanit” settlement, north of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a Bedouin Village approximately 700m away. At approximately 10:30 on the following day, the body of a Palestinian man was brought to al-Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza, after the Palestinian liaison forces received him from Israeli occupation forces.
According to medical sources, the young man was hit by several live bullets in the head. No one was able to identify him until 14:00, when his relative identified him and also asserted that he was mentally handicapped and had a physical handicap in the right leg. He was identified as Younis Mohammed ‘Oudeh Abu Gharara, 25, from the Bedouin Village.
According to residents of the area, they saw the young man 40m away from his houses during the Israeli shelling. It was still unknown whether Israeli forces took him to the settlement alive or dead, as they moved into the village and took his body. They delivered the body to the Palestinian side in the morning.
At approximately 07:00, medical sources at al-Maqassed Hospital in occupied Jerusalem announced that Rasmi Mustafa ‘Abdul Jalil Qadadha, 42, from ‘Atara billage, north of Ramallah, succumbed to a wound in the abdomen he received on 5 April, when Israeli occupation forces near ‘Atara bridge fired at him from a close distance while on his way to work.
At approximately 10:00, Shadi ‘Eissa Jaradat, 16, from Sa’ir village near Hebron, was wounded by two live bullets in the right hand and thigh fired by Israeli occupation forces. He told LAW that he walked towards road (60), east of his village, to travel towards Hebron. When he was close to the road, an Israeli military jeep arrived at the area and an Israeli soldier fired at him. He was wounded by a live bullet in the right hand. He hurried towards the house of a relative near the area.
While he was running, Israeli soldiers fired at him again. He was wounded by another live bullet in the right thigh.
In addition, Ashraf ‘Ali al-Tarwa, 24, was wounded by a live bullet while he was near his house.
At noon, a number of Palestinian men threw stones towards an Israeli patrol on the Ramallah-Jerusalem road near Qalandya refugee camp, north of Jerusalem. Israeli forces fired at the demonstrators, killing Khaled ‘Abdul Ra’ouf Hamad, 31, with a live bullet in the chest.
Operation Defencive shield
At approximately 03:00 on Monday, Israeli occupation forces positioned near a mosque in al-Obeidia village, east of Bethlehem, fired an artillery shell at a civilian car, in which Mohammed Ahmed Abu Muhareb, 29, traveled home. Abu Muhareb was killed by shrapnel throughout the body.
At approximately 08:30, Israeli occupation forces broke into an apartment building in al-Duha village, south of Beit Jala, and opened fire at residents of the building.
Rana Sa’di al-Karaja, 24, was killed by several live bullets in the head and the chest and two other Palestinian civilians were wounded. According to LAW’s information, Israeli forces arrested the wounded and took the body of the woman.
They have maintained a strict siege on the building, which includes 26 flats. They have terrified residents of the building, claiming that some wanted Palestinians were inside the building.
Also on Monday morning, the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that Israeli occupation forces had prevented all attempts made by medical personnel to save lives of a Palestinian who was wounded four days earlier, and some patients who had been besieged inside the Church of the Nativity.
Dr, Mousa Abu Humeid, Director General of West Bank hospitals stated that Israeli forces deliberately prevented the evacuation to hospital of Tamer al-Kusba, who was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen four days earlier. Abu Humeid added that there were some patients in the church who were badly in need of regular medical treatment.
Israeli forces denied the access of medical personnel to the church. On the same day, Israeli forces denied the access of medical personnel to al-Duha village in Bethlehem to evacuate the wounded.
On Monday afternoon, around 100 Israeli soldiers were airdropped from helicopters and deployed into the villages of al-Sadda, Fuqiqis, Kharsa, al-Tabaqa and Deir al-‘Asal. According to eyewitnesses, they combed the hills around these villages and destroyed caves without any prior warning and without checking if there were any living creatures inside. Villagers usually use caves for their animals.
Also on Monday afternoon, Israeli occupation forces moved into Dura village. They opened fire indiscriminately at Palestinian civilians, wounding 16. They also imposed a curfew on the village, denying the access of Palestinians who were at their work to their houses. Israeli forces denied access of ambulances to four of the wounded.
They also blocked an ambulance.
On Monday morning, Israeli occupation forces raided and searched Palestinian houses in Far’oun village, which had been under a curfew for more than 10 days. The curfew was only lifted for two hours during this period and Palestinian civilians were not able to go to Tulkarm to buy supplies.
At the same time, Israeli occupation forces raided and searched Palestinian houses in Deir al-Ghosoun village, which had been under a curfew for more than two weeks.
Also on Monday morning, Israeli occupation forces imposed a curfew on ‘Allar vilage, north of Tulkarm. Israeli forces positioned at the entrances to Tulkarm fired indiscriminately at Palestinian civilians who attempted to enter or leave the city.
At approximately 02:30, Israeli occupation forces in the vicinity of Salah al-Din Gate at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at the nearby Palestinian houses.
A number of houses were severely damaged and 42-year-old Hassan Sha’ban Abu Ghali was wounded by shrapnel in the left foot while at home.
At approximately 03:00, after an exchange of fire between a group of Palestinian gunmen and Israeli occupation forces, a unit of Israeli troops moved approximately 1500m into al-Heker area in the east of Deir al-Balah and opened fire indiscriminately.
A Palestinian security man was killed and another one was wounded. According to PCHR’s investigation,
‘Alla’ Ahmed al-Aa’raj, 22, a member of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service, and
Mohammed Suleiman Abu ‘Amra, 26 a member of the Palestinian National Security Force,
were on duty in the area in civilian clothes. Israeli forces opened fire at them as soon as they noticed them. Al-Aa’raj was killed by three live bullets in the chest and Abu ‘Amra was wounded by several live bullets in the right foot.
At approximately 14:30, Israeli occupation forces in the vicinity of “Nissanit” settlement, north of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a Bedouin Village approximately 700m away. At approximately 10:30 on the following day, the body of a Palestinian man was brought to al-Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza, after the Palestinian liaison forces received him from Israeli occupation forces.
According to medical sources, the young man was hit by several live bullets in the head. No one was able to identify him until 14:00, when his relative identified him and also asserted that he was mentally handicapped and had a physical handicap in the right leg. He was identified as Younis Mohammed ‘Oudeh Abu Gharara, 25, from the Bedouin Village.
According to residents of the area, they saw the young man 40m away from his houses during the Israeli shelling. It was still unknown whether Israeli forces took him to the settlement alive or dead, as they moved into the village and took his body. They delivered the body to the Palestinian side in the morning.
At approximately 07:00, medical sources at al-Maqassed Hospital in occupied Jerusalem announced that Rasmi Mustafa ‘Abdul Jalil Qadadha, 42, from ‘Atara billage, north of Ramallah, succumbed to a wound in the abdomen he received on 5 April, when Israeli occupation forces near ‘Atara bridge fired at him from a close distance while on his way to work.
At approximately 10:00, Shadi ‘Eissa Jaradat, 16, from Sa’ir village near Hebron, was wounded by two live bullets in the right hand and thigh fired by Israeli occupation forces. He told LAW that he walked towards road (60), east of his village, to travel towards Hebron. When he was close to the road, an Israeli military jeep arrived at the area and an Israeli soldier fired at him. He was wounded by a live bullet in the right hand. He hurried towards the house of a relative near the area.
While he was running, Israeli soldiers fired at him again. He was wounded by another live bullet in the right thigh.
In addition, Ashraf ‘Ali al-Tarwa, 24, was wounded by a live bullet while he was near his house.
At noon, a number of Palestinian men threw stones towards an Israeli patrol on the Ramallah-Jerusalem road near Qalandya refugee camp, north of Jerusalem. Israeli forces fired at the demonstrators, killing Khaled ‘Abdul Ra’ouf Hamad, 31, with a live bullet in the chest.
14 apr 2002
On Sunday, 14 April, Israeli defense minister Benyamin Ben Eliezer claimed that "dozens, not hundreds, were killed in the refugee camp." Israeli occupation forces have denied or obstructed the access of medical personnel and international agencies, such as UNRWA and ICRC to the refugee camp, raising suspicions of a cover-up of mass human rights violations.
According to eyewitnesses, an Israeli truck was repeatedly seen entering the refugee camp and then leaving it loaded with bodies of Palestinians, heading towards Israel. Some journalists risked their lives to enter the refugee camps and photographed burnt and decayed bodies under the ruins. Such photos were only cursory examinations.
According to eyewitnesses, Israeli occupation forces extra-judicially executed many Palestinian civilians who refused to leave their homes, as well as resistance fighters who surrendered after their ammunition ran out. The ICRC stated that the situation in the refugee camp resembled the aftermath of an earthquake, and that it was impossible for it to carry out its rescue mission with local means.
Israeli occupation forces also destroyed a number of houses over their residents. Some residents of the refugee camp were also forced to leave the camp. The geography of the refugee camp has totally changed due to the Israeli offensive.
At approximately 04:00 on Sunday, Israeli occupation forces raided a besieged house in Jenin refugee camp, where some families had sought shelter. Israeli forces arrested a member of the Palestinian resistance, Hazem Ahmed Rihan Qabha known as “Abu Jandal,” 39, a leader of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades from Ya’bad village in Jenin.
They extra-judicially executed him in the yard of al-Damaj quarter in the refugee camp.
Israeli occupation forces broke into an apartment building in Bitounia area. They forced the 60 residents, including 30 children, out of the building, without allowing them to take food or even money to buy supplies. Israeli forces ordered men to take their clothes off the upper part of the body and ordered women to stand opposite to them.
Then, Israeli forces took an old man as a human shield and broke into a number of flats. They damaged furniture and destroyed closed doors. Then, Israeli heavy military vehicles opened fire at the upper floors of the building. Residents of the building were allowed entry into the building only at 06:30.
Soon, they discovered that Israeli forces had stolen their money.
Israeli occupation forces redeployed around Yatta village and isolated it from Hebron. They also seized a number of Palestinian houses and transformed them into military locations after having expelled their residents.
Although Israeli occupation forces claimed they had withdrawn from some villages, they repeatedly entered these villages, and large numbers of troops took position at their entrances. They also raided and searched Palestinian houses in these villages
Israeli occupation forces chased local and foreign journalists who attempted to enter Jenin and its refugee camp. Israeli forces detained them at al-Jalama and Salem roadblocks for two and a half hours. Then, they forced those journalists to leave the area and threatened to arrest them in they were found near Jenin. According to media sources, Israeli forces insulted and intimidated those journalists, especially Patrick Pazz, Chief of the Middle East Bureau of France Press Agency (AFP), 'Atta 'Oweisat, a photographer of Gama photo agency, an 'Ammar 'Awadh, a photographer of Reuters.
'Awadh asserted that Israeli occupation forces decided to interrogate them, claiming that they entered a prohibited area, and to prosecute them later. Israeli forces also intimidated ten journalists near Um al-Nour town inside the Green Linne and at Salem military roadblock. Those journalists, including Rawhi al-Razem, of APTM press agency, and Joram Dilly, of Associated Press, were forced to leave the area without having been able to enter Jenin.
At approximately 12:00 on the same day, Israeli occupation forced attacked some journalists, including those of the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel, and denied them access to Jenin refugee camp to cover violations of human rights daily perpetrated by Israeli occupation forces against Palestinians. Israeli forces chased the staff of the Spanish Television and intimidated its correspondent Mohammed Barakat and searched his car.
They also attacked Walid al-'Emari, correspondent of Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel and confiscated film from his camera.
At approximately 15:30, Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with two bulldozers, moved approximately 100m into al-Salam neighborhood adjacent to the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, under the cover of intense shelling.
‘Emad Subhi Abu Ne’ma, 23, was wounded by a live bullet in the right hand. PCHR’s field worker in Rafah reported that the Israeli bulldozers leveled a house that was demolished last week, owned by Mohammed Abu Shawish, damaging an adjacent house owned by Mahdi Siam. They also demolished a fence of on a tract of land owned by Hani Abu Hani.
At approximately 11:30, Israeli occupation forces at the entrance to Erez industrial zone in the northern Gaza Strip, fired at a Palestinian taxi, whose driver Ashraf ‘Abdul Latif al-Masri, 27, from Beit Hanoun, and another young man, Ahmed al-Katari, 25, were traveling to Gaza. Al-Katari was wounded by shrapnel in the head.
According to the driver, Israeli forced fire at them without prior warning and for no apparent reason.
On Sunday, 14 April, Israeli defense minister Benyamin Ben Eliezer claimed that "dozens, not hundreds, were killed in the refugee camp." Israeli occupation forces have denied or obstructed the access of medical personnel and international agencies, such as UNRWA and ICRC to the refugee camp, raising suspicions of a cover-up of mass human rights violations.
According to eyewitnesses, an Israeli truck was repeatedly seen entering the refugee camp and then leaving it loaded with bodies of Palestinians, heading towards Israel. Some journalists risked their lives to enter the refugee camps and photographed burnt and decayed bodies under the ruins. Such photos were only cursory examinations.
According to eyewitnesses, Israeli occupation forces extra-judicially executed many Palestinian civilians who refused to leave their homes, as well as resistance fighters who surrendered after their ammunition ran out. The ICRC stated that the situation in the refugee camp resembled the aftermath of an earthquake, and that it was impossible for it to carry out its rescue mission with local means.
Israeli occupation forces also destroyed a number of houses over their residents. Some residents of the refugee camp were also forced to leave the camp. The geography of the refugee camp has totally changed due to the Israeli offensive.
At approximately 04:00 on Sunday, Israeli occupation forces raided a besieged house in Jenin refugee camp, where some families had sought shelter. Israeli forces arrested a member of the Palestinian resistance, Hazem Ahmed Rihan Qabha known as “Abu Jandal,” 39, a leader of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades from Ya’bad village in Jenin.
They extra-judicially executed him in the yard of al-Damaj quarter in the refugee camp.
Israeli occupation forces broke into an apartment building in Bitounia area. They forced the 60 residents, including 30 children, out of the building, without allowing them to take food or even money to buy supplies. Israeli forces ordered men to take their clothes off the upper part of the body and ordered women to stand opposite to them.
Then, Israeli forces took an old man as a human shield and broke into a number of flats. They damaged furniture and destroyed closed doors. Then, Israeli heavy military vehicles opened fire at the upper floors of the building. Residents of the building were allowed entry into the building only at 06:30.
Soon, they discovered that Israeli forces had stolen their money.
Israeli occupation forces redeployed around Yatta village and isolated it from Hebron. They also seized a number of Palestinian houses and transformed them into military locations after having expelled their residents.
Although Israeli occupation forces claimed they had withdrawn from some villages, they repeatedly entered these villages, and large numbers of troops took position at their entrances. They also raided and searched Palestinian houses in these villages
Israeli occupation forces chased local and foreign journalists who attempted to enter Jenin and its refugee camp. Israeli forces detained them at al-Jalama and Salem roadblocks for two and a half hours. Then, they forced those journalists to leave the area and threatened to arrest them in they were found near Jenin. According to media sources, Israeli forces insulted and intimidated those journalists, especially Patrick Pazz, Chief of the Middle East Bureau of France Press Agency (AFP), 'Atta 'Oweisat, a photographer of Gama photo agency, an 'Ammar 'Awadh, a photographer of Reuters.
'Awadh asserted that Israeli occupation forces decided to interrogate them, claiming that they entered a prohibited area, and to prosecute them later. Israeli forces also intimidated ten journalists near Um al-Nour town inside the Green Linne and at Salem military roadblock. Those journalists, including Rawhi al-Razem, of APTM press agency, and Joram Dilly, of Associated Press, were forced to leave the area without having been able to enter Jenin.
At approximately 12:00 on the same day, Israeli occupation forced attacked some journalists, including those of the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel, and denied them access to Jenin refugee camp to cover violations of human rights daily perpetrated by Israeli occupation forces against Palestinians. Israeli forces chased the staff of the Spanish Television and intimidated its correspondent Mohammed Barakat and searched his car.
They also attacked Walid al-'Emari, correspondent of Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel and confiscated film from his camera.
At approximately 15:30, Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with two bulldozers, moved approximately 100m into al-Salam neighborhood adjacent to the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, under the cover of intense shelling.
‘Emad Subhi Abu Ne’ma, 23, was wounded by a live bullet in the right hand. PCHR’s field worker in Rafah reported that the Israeli bulldozers leveled a house that was demolished last week, owned by Mohammed Abu Shawish, damaging an adjacent house owned by Mahdi Siam. They also demolished a fence of on a tract of land owned by Hani Abu Hani.
At approximately 11:30, Israeli occupation forces at the entrance to Erez industrial zone in the northern Gaza Strip, fired at a Palestinian taxi, whose driver Ashraf ‘Abdul Latif al-Masri, 27, from Beit Hanoun, and another young man, Ahmed al-Katari, 25, were traveling to Gaza. Al-Katari was wounded by shrapnel in the head.
According to the driver, Israeli forced fire at them without prior warning and for no apparent reason.
13 apr 2002
On Saturday morning, Israeli occupation forces besieged Kherbat Kazda near Tubas town in Jenin District. They imposed a curfew on the area and airdropped special troops who surrounded some houses. The soldiers raided a house and used loudspeakers to call on two men inside the house to surrender. The men surrendered and were taken to an unknown destination. They were Nasser ‘Oweis, leader of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in Nablus, and Ahmed Khader, from Seilat al-Haritheya village in Jenin.
On Saturday morning, Israeli bulldozers established sand barriers in the centre of Ramallah to separate neighborhoods of the city. It is now difficult for cars and ambulances to move inside the city. Sounds of explosions were heard throughout the city, as Israeli occupation forces destroyed doors of closed shops in Ramallah and al-Bireh.
At approximately 10:00 on the same day, six Israeli heavy military vehicles moved into the campus of the Technical Science College in al-Masioun area in Ramallah. Israeli soldiers gathered female students and teaching staff in the yard and checked and damaged the hostel. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces put weapons inside a room and photographed some students near these weapons. Israeli forces left the campus at 16:00 after they caused severe damage.
Also in the morning, a Palestinian paramedic managed to identify one of the bodies that had been kept in Ramallah Hospital. The victim was identified as Jad Hamada Khalbaq Khalbaq, 24, a policeman from ‘Azzoun village in Qalqilya.
He was killed on the third day of the Israeli offensive on Ramallah, when Israeli forces fired at him near Cairo-Amman Bank. He was hit by live bullets in the neck and the legs.
At approximately 18:00 on the same day, Israeli occupation forces besieged the buildings of Jawwal Company and the Palestinian Ministry of Health in al-Balou’ area in al-Bireh. Israeli forces moved into the five-story building of Jawwal Company and took 18 employees to the building of the Ministry of Health.
According to an employee, Israeli forces broke down doors of the building and stole some mobile phones and the store. They also searched the office of the director. According to Dr. Munther al-Sharif, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, Israeli forces damaged the building of the ministry and destroyed doors, files, photocopiers and computers. He added that he was denied access to the building to check the damages.
At approximately 23:40 on Saturday, Hassan ‘Abdullah al-Nasman, 26, from Jabalya refugee camp, a smith working in Bethlehem, was killed by two live bullets in the chest fired by an Israeli sniper positioned near the Church of the Nativity.
A sniper of Israeli occupation forces who took position in a forified room on a large lever that overlooked the yard of the church fired several live bullets from a gun equipped with a silencer at Palestinians besieged inside the church. Israeli forces denied the access of medical personnel to the church to offer medical help to al-Nasman, so he bled to death.
In the evening, Mohammed ‘Azziz ‘Abdul Ra’ouf, 28, from Jama’in village, south of Nablus, was killed by shrapnel from a missile fired by an Israeli helicopter gunship. According to LAW, Israeli occupation forces apparently noticed him carrying a gun in the south of the city and an Israeli helicopter gunship fired a missile in an excessive use of force.
On Saturday morning, Israeli occupation forces besieged Kherbat Kazda near Tubas town in Jenin District. They imposed a curfew on the area and airdropped special troops who surrounded some houses. The soldiers raided a house and used loudspeakers to call on two men inside the house to surrender. The men surrendered and were taken to an unknown destination. They were Nasser ‘Oweis, leader of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in Nablus, and Ahmed Khader, from Seilat al-Haritheya village in Jenin.
On Saturday morning, Israeli bulldozers established sand barriers in the centre of Ramallah to separate neighborhoods of the city. It is now difficult for cars and ambulances to move inside the city. Sounds of explosions were heard throughout the city, as Israeli occupation forces destroyed doors of closed shops in Ramallah and al-Bireh.
At approximately 10:00 on the same day, six Israeli heavy military vehicles moved into the campus of the Technical Science College in al-Masioun area in Ramallah. Israeli soldiers gathered female students and teaching staff in the yard and checked and damaged the hostel. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces put weapons inside a room and photographed some students near these weapons. Israeli forces left the campus at 16:00 after they caused severe damage.
Also in the morning, a Palestinian paramedic managed to identify one of the bodies that had been kept in Ramallah Hospital. The victim was identified as Jad Hamada Khalbaq Khalbaq, 24, a policeman from ‘Azzoun village in Qalqilya.
He was killed on the third day of the Israeli offensive on Ramallah, when Israeli forces fired at him near Cairo-Amman Bank. He was hit by live bullets in the neck and the legs.
At approximately 18:00 on the same day, Israeli occupation forces besieged the buildings of Jawwal Company and the Palestinian Ministry of Health in al-Balou’ area in al-Bireh. Israeli forces moved into the five-story building of Jawwal Company and took 18 employees to the building of the Ministry of Health.
According to an employee, Israeli forces broke down doors of the building and stole some mobile phones and the store. They also searched the office of the director. According to Dr. Munther al-Sharif, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, Israeli forces damaged the building of the ministry and destroyed doors, files, photocopiers and computers. He added that he was denied access to the building to check the damages.
At approximately 23:40 on Saturday, Hassan ‘Abdullah al-Nasman, 26, from Jabalya refugee camp, a smith working in Bethlehem, was killed by two live bullets in the chest fired by an Israeli sniper positioned near the Church of the Nativity.
A sniper of Israeli occupation forces who took position in a forified room on a large lever that overlooked the yard of the church fired several live bullets from a gun equipped with a silencer at Palestinians besieged inside the church. Israeli forces denied the access of medical personnel to the church to offer medical help to al-Nasman, so he bled to death.
In the evening, Mohammed ‘Azziz ‘Abdul Ra’ouf, 28, from Jama’in village, south of Nablus, was killed by shrapnel from a missile fired by an Israeli helicopter gunship. According to LAW, Israeli occupation forces apparently noticed him carrying a gun in the south of the city and an Israeli helicopter gunship fired a missile in an excessive use of force.
12 apr 2002
On Friday, bodies of eight members of one family were discovered under ruins. Only one member of the family survived, as he was not at home when the disaster occurred. Israeli occupation forced has shelled the three-story house of the family in al-Qariun neighborhood in the old city for several days. Then, Israeli bulldozers leveled the house, according to residents of the area. The eight bodies were pulled out from the ruins on Tuesday, when the curfew imposed on Nablus was lifted for hours. The victims are:
1· ‘Omar Ahmed al-Shu’abi, 85;
2· Samir ‘Omar al-Shu’abi 47; (the first victim’s son)
3· Nabila ‘Abdel Ra’ouf Ghanem 40; (the second victim’s wife)
4· ‘Abdullah Samir al-Shu’abi 10; (the second and third victims’ son)
5· ‘Azzam Samir al-Shu’abi 7; (the second and third victims’ son)
6· Anas Samir al-Shu’abi 4; (the second and third victims’ son)
7· Fatema ‘Omar al-Shu’abi (the first victim’s daughter); and
8· ‘Abir ‘Omar al-Shu’abi (the first victim’s daughter).
Mahmoud ‘Omar al-Shu’abi, 35, the only member of the family who survived the disaster as he was not home, said that when Israeli occupation forces lifted the curfew imposed on the old city for some hours to allow the evacuation of bodies of those who were killed, he was able to reach the neighborhood where they used to live.
There were no contacts between him and his family during the Israeli offensive on Nablus. When he arrived in the area, he found that the family’s house had been transformed into a hill of stones and sand. He did not find anyone from his family. He added: “I received help from emergency personnel and our neighbors. The removal of ruins was a very difficult job.
Several hours later, we discovered the bodies of my old father, my two sisters and my bother, his wife and their three children. After we removed the bodies of my family, we were surprised to find my uncle ‘Abdullah, 65, and his wife Shams, 55, still alive. They were covered with sand and trapped under the ruins of the house. They were living on the lower floor of the house.”
The two survivors talked about the time they spent trapped beneath the rubble and very severe living conditions while they were under the ruins. The wife suffers from chronic health problems. The two sustained injuries and bruises and lacked basic living conditions and medical needs.
On Friday, a newborn baby died due the obstruction of his access to hospital. According to investigation carried out by LAW, at approximately 16:00 on Friday, 12 April, Tahani Sha’ar, who was in the seventh month of pregnancy and the wife of Dr. ‘Ali Sha’ar of Save the Children, was in labour.
The husband tried to take her to hospital, but Israeli occupation forces denied the access of an ambulance to the house. So, he was forced to call a neighboring physician who supervised the childbirth.
The baby was in need of an incubator. An ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, was denied access to the house and fired at by Israeli occupation forces. At approximately 23:00, the baby stopped breathing and died despite attempts by his father to save him.
At approximately 20:15 on Friday, Israeli occupation forces positioned on rooftops of Palestinian houses in Dura shot dead Eskandar Khaled ‘Abdul Hamid Sa’ada, 50, with several live bullets throughout the body.
According to his son Eihab, the father got up to the roof of their house to check their water tanks. The son heard sounds of intense shooting coming from a nearby house that had been seized by Israeli forces. He tried to go to the roof to check what happened, but Israeli forces fired at him as well.
At approximately 22:00, Israeli forces raided and searched the house. Then, they ordered Eihab to take his clothes off and to go to the roof. They used a girl living in the house as a human shield. When they went to the roof, Eihab saw his father on the ground bleeding. Israeli forces remained in the house until 23:30. Then, the family was able to take the father’s body down.
At approximately 04:30, in a retaliatory action after an exchange of fire between Israeli occupation forces and a Palestinian gunman near Beit Hanoun (Erez) Checkpoint, in which the gunman was killed, Israeli forces opened fire at some Palestinian laborers, who were on their way to work in Erez industrial zone.
A Palestinian laborer, Nazhmi Hamdan Yassin, 27, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza, was killed by several live bullets throughout the body. Two other laborers were wounded:
1· ‘Abed Mohammed Yassin, 25, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza, wounded by a live bullet in the right hand; and
2· Munir Radwan Yassin, 30, wounded by a live bullet in the left hand.
Israeli occupation forces also closed the industrial zone and denied the access of Palestinian laborers to their work.
In an apparent willful killing, Israeli occupation forces shot dead ‘Attallah Mikhael al-Hayek, 47, from Beit Sahur in the West Bank, from a close distance.
According to investigations carried out by LAW, the victim received a phone call at 12:00 from a relative who lives near another house owned by the victim, and was informed that Israeli occupation forces had broken the doors of the house in an attempt to break into it. The victim and his brother Riad, 30, went to the house in Abu Sa’da Satreet in their car.
As soon as they arrived at the area, Israeli forces thoroughly checked them and their identity cards. They also took keys of the house. Israeli forces resumed breaking the doors of the house. Then, they ordered the two brothers to leave the area. As soon as they started the car, Israeli forces fired at them. The victim was killed by three live bullets in the head, the chest and the back, and his brother was slightly wounded by shrapnel.
· At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupation soldiers in a military jeep that chased some Palestinian men in Biddu village, northwest of occupied Jerusalem, opening fire indiscriminately at Palestinian villagers. Riad ‘Abed Dhiab Sa’ada, 24, was killed by a live bullet in the heart while at the entrance of the village.
On Friday, bodies of eight members of one family were discovered under ruins. Only one member of the family survived, as he was not at home when the disaster occurred. Israeli occupation forced has shelled the three-story house of the family in al-Qariun neighborhood in the old city for several days. Then, Israeli bulldozers leveled the house, according to residents of the area. The eight bodies were pulled out from the ruins on Tuesday, when the curfew imposed on Nablus was lifted for hours. The victims are:
1· ‘Omar Ahmed al-Shu’abi, 85;
2· Samir ‘Omar al-Shu’abi 47; (the first victim’s son)
3· Nabila ‘Abdel Ra’ouf Ghanem 40; (the second victim’s wife)
4· ‘Abdullah Samir al-Shu’abi 10; (the second and third victims’ son)
5· ‘Azzam Samir al-Shu’abi 7; (the second and third victims’ son)
6· Anas Samir al-Shu’abi 4; (the second and third victims’ son)
7· Fatema ‘Omar al-Shu’abi (the first victim’s daughter); and
8· ‘Abir ‘Omar al-Shu’abi (the first victim’s daughter).
Mahmoud ‘Omar al-Shu’abi, 35, the only member of the family who survived the disaster as he was not home, said that when Israeli occupation forces lifted the curfew imposed on the old city for some hours to allow the evacuation of bodies of those who were killed, he was able to reach the neighborhood where they used to live.
There were no contacts between him and his family during the Israeli offensive on Nablus. When he arrived in the area, he found that the family’s house had been transformed into a hill of stones and sand. He did not find anyone from his family. He added: “I received help from emergency personnel and our neighbors. The removal of ruins was a very difficult job.
Several hours later, we discovered the bodies of my old father, my two sisters and my bother, his wife and their three children. After we removed the bodies of my family, we were surprised to find my uncle ‘Abdullah, 65, and his wife Shams, 55, still alive. They were covered with sand and trapped under the ruins of the house. They were living on the lower floor of the house.”
The two survivors talked about the time they spent trapped beneath the rubble and very severe living conditions while they were under the ruins. The wife suffers from chronic health problems. The two sustained injuries and bruises and lacked basic living conditions and medical needs.
On Friday, a newborn baby died due the obstruction of his access to hospital. According to investigation carried out by LAW, at approximately 16:00 on Friday, 12 April, Tahani Sha’ar, who was in the seventh month of pregnancy and the wife of Dr. ‘Ali Sha’ar of Save the Children, was in labour.
The husband tried to take her to hospital, but Israeli occupation forces denied the access of an ambulance to the house. So, he was forced to call a neighboring physician who supervised the childbirth.
The baby was in need of an incubator. An ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, was denied access to the house and fired at by Israeli occupation forces. At approximately 23:00, the baby stopped breathing and died despite attempts by his father to save him.
At approximately 20:15 on Friday, Israeli occupation forces positioned on rooftops of Palestinian houses in Dura shot dead Eskandar Khaled ‘Abdul Hamid Sa’ada, 50, with several live bullets throughout the body.
According to his son Eihab, the father got up to the roof of their house to check their water tanks. The son heard sounds of intense shooting coming from a nearby house that had been seized by Israeli forces. He tried to go to the roof to check what happened, but Israeli forces fired at him as well.
At approximately 22:00, Israeli forces raided and searched the house. Then, they ordered Eihab to take his clothes off and to go to the roof. They used a girl living in the house as a human shield. When they went to the roof, Eihab saw his father on the ground bleeding. Israeli forces remained in the house until 23:30. Then, the family was able to take the father’s body down.
At approximately 04:30, in a retaliatory action after an exchange of fire between Israeli occupation forces and a Palestinian gunman near Beit Hanoun (Erez) Checkpoint, in which the gunman was killed, Israeli forces opened fire at some Palestinian laborers, who were on their way to work in Erez industrial zone.
A Palestinian laborer, Nazhmi Hamdan Yassin, 27, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza, was killed by several live bullets throughout the body. Two other laborers were wounded:
1· ‘Abed Mohammed Yassin, 25, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza, wounded by a live bullet in the right hand; and
2· Munir Radwan Yassin, 30, wounded by a live bullet in the left hand.
Israeli occupation forces also closed the industrial zone and denied the access of Palestinian laborers to their work.
In an apparent willful killing, Israeli occupation forces shot dead ‘Attallah Mikhael al-Hayek, 47, from Beit Sahur in the West Bank, from a close distance.
According to investigations carried out by LAW, the victim received a phone call at 12:00 from a relative who lives near another house owned by the victim, and was informed that Israeli occupation forces had broken the doors of the house in an attempt to break into it. The victim and his brother Riad, 30, went to the house in Abu Sa’da Satreet in their car.
As soon as they arrived at the area, Israeli forces thoroughly checked them and their identity cards. They also took keys of the house. Israeli forces resumed breaking the doors of the house. Then, they ordered the two brothers to leave the area. As soon as they started the car, Israeli forces fired at them. The victim was killed by three live bullets in the head, the chest and the back, and his brother was slightly wounded by shrapnel.
· At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupation soldiers in a military jeep that chased some Palestinian men in Biddu village, northwest of occupied Jerusalem, opening fire indiscriminately at Palestinian villagers. Riad ‘Abed Dhiab Sa’ada, 24, was killed by a live bullet in the heart while at the entrance of the village.
11 apr 2002
At approximately 09:30 on Thursday, Israeli occupation forces intensely shelled Palestinian houses in the eastern neighborhood of Jenin.
Fares ‘Emad Husni al-Zeben, 14, was killed by shrapnel from an artillery shell in the chest, while he was in front of his family’s house during a lifting of the curfew. ·
At approximately 16:00 on the same day, residents of Kufor Ra’ei village, southwest of Jenin, discovered the body of 30-year-old ‘Ammar Hamdan Salim ‘Othman, from Tulkarm refugee camp, in al-Naqar area, south of the village.
The victim was hit by a heavy caliber bullet in the chest. According to investigation carried out by the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment (LAW), Israeli occupation forces had invaded and seized complete control over the village on Tuesday, 9 April. They moved into the village under the cover of intense shelling by tanks and helicopter gunships. ‘Otham was apparently killed during the Israeli incursion. His body was found only when Israeli forces withdrew from the village. ‘Othman was a member of the Palestinian National Security Force.
In the evening, Israeli occupation forces positioned in al-Hadaf area, southwest of Jenin refugee camp, shelled the nearby Wadi Burqin area.
‘Ammar Tawfiq Turkmani, 28, was killed by a live bullet in the head.
On Thursday morning, Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles moved into Bir Zeit village near Ramallah. They seized complete control over the village and imposed a curfew. Then, they raided flats belonging to students of Bir Zeit University and confiscated belongings of students. They also arrested dozens of students.
According to investigations carried out by LAW, Israeli forces raided and almost destroyed the headquarters of Palestinian security services in the village. They also destroyed the headquarters of Fatah Movement in the centre of the village.
On Thursday morning, Israeli occupation forces invaded and seized complete control over al-Zhahiria village in Hebron. They took position on roofs of some houses. During the Israeli offensive on the village, which continued until Saturday, 13 April, Israeli forces killed two Palestinian civilians and arrested more than 70 political and civil prisoners who were detained in al-Zhahiria prison.
Israeli forces also destroyed several civilian and security facilities and damaged the water and electricity networks. According to investigations carried out by LAW, Israeli occupation forces attacked and arrested emergency personnel of the municipality who attempted to extinguish fires that broke out in several buildings. ·
At approximately 19:00 on Thursday, an Israeli sniper on the roof of a house in the village fired at Basma Mousa Qeisia, 38, seriously wounding her with a live bullet in the pelvis.
According to LAW, Qeisia get out of her house in the centre of the village to bring some supplies for her family. When Israeli occupation forces noticed her, an Israeli soldier fired at her from a distance of approximately 150m.
One of her neighbors attempted to offer her help, but Israeli forces fired at him as well, so he escaped. Later, people were able to take her home. Ambulances were not able to reach the house. She bled to death at 05:00 on the following day.
On Thursday night, Palestinian medical personnel in Dura village, west of Hebron, which was invaded by Israeli occupation forces last week, discovered the body of Mohammed Khalil Khallaf, 27, a member of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service, in Wadi al-Nir area. Khallaf had been hit by several live bullets.
After midnight, 5-year-old ‘Aahed Rasmi ‘Ali Hamad died from tear gas inhalation when Israeli occupation forces fired tear gas canisters at his family’s house in the centre of Dura. His two brothers also suffered from tear gas inhalation.
At approximately 09:30 on Thursday, Israeli occupation forces intensely shelled Palestinian houses in the eastern neighborhood of Jenin.
Fares ‘Emad Husni al-Zeben, 14, was killed by shrapnel from an artillery shell in the chest, while he was in front of his family’s house during a lifting of the curfew. ·
At approximately 16:00 on the same day, residents of Kufor Ra’ei village, southwest of Jenin, discovered the body of 30-year-old ‘Ammar Hamdan Salim ‘Othman, from Tulkarm refugee camp, in al-Naqar area, south of the village.
The victim was hit by a heavy caliber bullet in the chest. According to investigation carried out by the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment (LAW), Israeli occupation forces had invaded and seized complete control over the village on Tuesday, 9 April. They moved into the village under the cover of intense shelling by tanks and helicopter gunships. ‘Otham was apparently killed during the Israeli incursion. His body was found only when Israeli forces withdrew from the village. ‘Othman was a member of the Palestinian National Security Force.
In the evening, Israeli occupation forces positioned in al-Hadaf area, southwest of Jenin refugee camp, shelled the nearby Wadi Burqin area.
‘Ammar Tawfiq Turkmani, 28, was killed by a live bullet in the head.
On Thursday morning, Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles moved into Bir Zeit village near Ramallah. They seized complete control over the village and imposed a curfew. Then, they raided flats belonging to students of Bir Zeit University and confiscated belongings of students. They also arrested dozens of students.
According to investigations carried out by LAW, Israeli forces raided and almost destroyed the headquarters of Palestinian security services in the village. They also destroyed the headquarters of Fatah Movement in the centre of the village.
On Thursday morning, Israeli occupation forces invaded and seized complete control over al-Zhahiria village in Hebron. They took position on roofs of some houses. During the Israeli offensive on the village, which continued until Saturday, 13 April, Israeli forces killed two Palestinian civilians and arrested more than 70 political and civil prisoners who were detained in al-Zhahiria prison.
Israeli forces also destroyed several civilian and security facilities and damaged the water and electricity networks. According to investigations carried out by LAW, Israeli occupation forces attacked and arrested emergency personnel of the municipality who attempted to extinguish fires that broke out in several buildings. ·
At approximately 19:00 on Thursday, an Israeli sniper on the roof of a house in the village fired at Basma Mousa Qeisia, 38, seriously wounding her with a live bullet in the pelvis.
According to LAW, Qeisia get out of her house in the centre of the village to bring some supplies for her family. When Israeli occupation forces noticed her, an Israeli soldier fired at her from a distance of approximately 150m.
One of her neighbors attempted to offer her help, but Israeli forces fired at him as well, so he escaped. Later, people were able to take her home. Ambulances were not able to reach the house. She bled to death at 05:00 on the following day.
On Thursday night, Palestinian medical personnel in Dura village, west of Hebron, which was invaded by Israeli occupation forces last week, discovered the body of Mohammed Khalil Khallaf, 27, a member of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service, in Wadi al-Nir area. Khallaf had been hit by several live bullets.
After midnight, 5-year-old ‘Aahed Rasmi ‘Ali Hamad died from tear gas inhalation when Israeli occupation forces fired tear gas canisters at his family’s house in the centre of Dura. His two brothers also suffered from tear gas inhalation.
10 apr 2002
On Wednesday morning, several bodies of Palestinians killed by Israeli occupation forces were brought to hospitals of Nablus:
1. Rebhi Haddad, 49, from Nablus;
2. Colonel Yousef Humeidan, 50, from Nablus;
3. Bilal Dha’ini, 22, from Nablus;
4. Rasha Freitekh, from Nablus;
5. Rebhi al-Lulu, from Nablus;
6. Kamal ‘Awad, from Nablus;
7. Mahmoud al-‘Ali, from Nablus;
8. Maher al-Kharraz, from Nablus;
9. Rawhi ‘Awada, from Nablus;
10. Mahmoud al-‘Amad; from Nablus;
11. Wa’el Freitekh, from Nablus;
12. Salam Ja’bur, from Nablus;
13. Ra’ed Hajji, from Nablus;
14. ‘Essam Sa’d, from Nablus;
15. Nidal al-Kushi, from Nablus;
16. Yasser al-Qishawi, from Nablus; and
17. Suna Hafezh Sabra, 26, from ‘Askar refugee camp.
On Wednesday morning, the ICRC personnel discovered the body of Mohammed Abu Tima in the kitchen of the presidential compound. His colleagues, who were arrested by Israeli forces, told the ICRC that Abu Tima was killed by Israeli forces on 29 March.
At noon, medical sources at Ramallah Hospital announced that 28-year-old Manal Sami Ibrahim succumbed to a wound in the chest inflicted by Israeli occupation forces while she was on the balcony of her house.
At approximately 16:00, Israeli occupation forces shot dead ‘Aatef Mousa Qandil, 24, mentally handicapped, for no apparent reason, while he was walking near the Arab Bank.
At approximately 17:00 on Wednesday, Israeli occupation forces positioned on rooftops in al-Marah neighborhood in Jenin shot dead ‘Amid ‘Azmi al-Yamuni, 20, with a live bullet in the chest, while he was inside his house.
At approximately 18:00 on Wednesday, Israeli occupation forces on the Jerusalem-Hebron road in Bethlehem shot dead ‘Ali Kahlil Mohammed Faraj, 60, with a live bullet in the chest.
At approximately 20:30, Yousef Salman Sueliman Mahanna, 28, was killed by several live bullets in the chest, the abdomen and the pelvis in an ambush by an undercover unit of Israeli occupation forces in al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis.
According to eyewitnesses, Mahanna, a member of the Palestinian National Security Force, was in a site used by the force, 500m south of al-‘Ajin junction. He went with his colleagues to a nearby grocery store. Suddenly, an undercover unit of Israeli occupation forces opened fire at them from a nearby citrus farm. Mahanna was wounded, but his colleagues were able to escape.
Two civilians, Sami ‘Abdelrahman al-Farra, 42, and Mahmoud Salem al-Farra, 32, who were on their way home attempted to offer help to Mahanna, but Israeli forces fired at them.
The former was wounded by a live bullet in the head, while the latter was wounded by shrapnel in the hands, so they were forced to leave the area.
Then, more than 10 Israeli tanks, supported by two helicopters, moved into the area, under the cover of intense shelling. Several ambulances came to the area and attempted to evacuate Mahanna, but Israeli forces fired at them. Mahanna remained in the area until midnight, when an ambulance was allowed to evacuate him upon the intervention of the ICRC.
Then, Israeli forces withdrew from the area. During their incursion into the area, Israeli tanks damaged a tract of agricultural land owned by Nasser Ahmed al-Sumeiri and ‘Abdelrahim Salem al-Sumeiri.
At approximately 22:00, intense shooting was heard in the east of ‘Arrabeh village in Jenin. At midnight, an Israeli combat helicopter shelled an animal farm in the same area. Villagers rushed to the area to check what happened.
They found that ‘Eid Yousef Jardan, 67, and his son Ahmed, 26, were wounded by shrapnel. Jardan told them that his son Mohammed Jardan, 37, left the area two hours earlier. Villagers searched for him in the farm.
They found him and his two wives, Amal Jardan, 33, pregnant in the seventh month, and Jamila Jardan, 34, killed approximately 200m away from the farm. They were hit by live bullets in the head and neck. According to eyewitness, they saw undercover units of Israeli occupation forces moving into the village in the evening, indicating that Israeli forces willfully killed the man and his two wives.
Assassination Attempts
Assassination Attempts On Wednesday morning, Israeli occupation forces assassinated Akram Sedqi al-Atrash Abu Sneineh, 28, from Hebron.
According to an investigation carried out by LAW, Israeli occupation forces came to al-‘Abaher area in the south of Dura village, at approximately 15:00. They shelled a house owned by Fawaz and Fayez Mohammed ‘Amru. The two were not in the house.
Soon, Israeli forces brought an old man, a neighbor of the two brothers, and ordered him to extinguish a fire that had broke out on the upper part of the body of a young man. Israeli forces claimed that the young man fired at them from inside the house. Israeli forces continued to shell the house. Then, they demolished it with a bulldozer. The body of the young man remained on the ground until 09:00, when an ambulance evacuated him.
According to eyewitnesses, the young man was blind. Israeli forces claimed that he was a leader of Ezziddin al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas in Hebron.
On Wednesday morning, several bodies of Palestinians killed by Israeli occupation forces were brought to hospitals of Nablus:
1. Rebhi Haddad, 49, from Nablus;
2. Colonel Yousef Humeidan, 50, from Nablus;
3. Bilal Dha’ini, 22, from Nablus;
4. Rasha Freitekh, from Nablus;
5. Rebhi al-Lulu, from Nablus;
6. Kamal ‘Awad, from Nablus;
7. Mahmoud al-‘Ali, from Nablus;
8. Maher al-Kharraz, from Nablus;
9. Rawhi ‘Awada, from Nablus;
10. Mahmoud al-‘Amad; from Nablus;
11. Wa’el Freitekh, from Nablus;
12. Salam Ja’bur, from Nablus;
13. Ra’ed Hajji, from Nablus;
14. ‘Essam Sa’d, from Nablus;
15. Nidal al-Kushi, from Nablus;
16. Yasser al-Qishawi, from Nablus; and
17. Suna Hafezh Sabra, 26, from ‘Askar refugee camp.
On Wednesday morning, the ICRC personnel discovered the body of Mohammed Abu Tima in the kitchen of the presidential compound. His colleagues, who were arrested by Israeli forces, told the ICRC that Abu Tima was killed by Israeli forces on 29 March.
At noon, medical sources at Ramallah Hospital announced that 28-year-old Manal Sami Ibrahim succumbed to a wound in the chest inflicted by Israeli occupation forces while she was on the balcony of her house.
At approximately 16:00, Israeli occupation forces shot dead ‘Aatef Mousa Qandil, 24, mentally handicapped, for no apparent reason, while he was walking near the Arab Bank.
At approximately 17:00 on Wednesday, Israeli occupation forces positioned on rooftops in al-Marah neighborhood in Jenin shot dead ‘Amid ‘Azmi al-Yamuni, 20, with a live bullet in the chest, while he was inside his house.
At approximately 18:00 on Wednesday, Israeli occupation forces on the Jerusalem-Hebron road in Bethlehem shot dead ‘Ali Kahlil Mohammed Faraj, 60, with a live bullet in the chest.
At approximately 20:30, Yousef Salman Sueliman Mahanna, 28, was killed by several live bullets in the chest, the abdomen and the pelvis in an ambush by an undercover unit of Israeli occupation forces in al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis.
According to eyewitnesses, Mahanna, a member of the Palestinian National Security Force, was in a site used by the force, 500m south of al-‘Ajin junction. He went with his colleagues to a nearby grocery store. Suddenly, an undercover unit of Israeli occupation forces opened fire at them from a nearby citrus farm. Mahanna was wounded, but his colleagues were able to escape.
Two civilians, Sami ‘Abdelrahman al-Farra, 42, and Mahmoud Salem al-Farra, 32, who were on their way home attempted to offer help to Mahanna, but Israeli forces fired at them.
The former was wounded by a live bullet in the head, while the latter was wounded by shrapnel in the hands, so they were forced to leave the area.
Then, more than 10 Israeli tanks, supported by two helicopters, moved into the area, under the cover of intense shelling. Several ambulances came to the area and attempted to evacuate Mahanna, but Israeli forces fired at them. Mahanna remained in the area until midnight, when an ambulance was allowed to evacuate him upon the intervention of the ICRC.
Then, Israeli forces withdrew from the area. During their incursion into the area, Israeli tanks damaged a tract of agricultural land owned by Nasser Ahmed al-Sumeiri and ‘Abdelrahim Salem al-Sumeiri.
At approximately 22:00, intense shooting was heard in the east of ‘Arrabeh village in Jenin. At midnight, an Israeli combat helicopter shelled an animal farm in the same area. Villagers rushed to the area to check what happened.
They found that ‘Eid Yousef Jardan, 67, and his son Ahmed, 26, were wounded by shrapnel. Jardan told them that his son Mohammed Jardan, 37, left the area two hours earlier. Villagers searched for him in the farm.
They found him and his two wives, Amal Jardan, 33, pregnant in the seventh month, and Jamila Jardan, 34, killed approximately 200m away from the farm. They were hit by live bullets in the head and neck. According to eyewitness, they saw undercover units of Israeli occupation forces moving into the village in the evening, indicating that Israeli forces willfully killed the man and his two wives.
Assassination Attempts
Assassination Attempts On Wednesday morning, Israeli occupation forces assassinated Akram Sedqi al-Atrash Abu Sneineh, 28, from Hebron.
According to an investigation carried out by LAW, Israeli occupation forces came to al-‘Abaher area in the south of Dura village, at approximately 15:00. They shelled a house owned by Fawaz and Fayez Mohammed ‘Amru. The two were not in the house.
Soon, Israeli forces brought an old man, a neighbor of the two brothers, and ordered him to extinguish a fire that had broke out on the upper part of the body of a young man. Israeli forces claimed that the young man fired at them from inside the house. Israeli forces continued to shell the house. Then, they demolished it with a bulldozer. The body of the young man remained on the ground until 09:00, when an ambulance evacuated him.
According to eyewitnesses, the young man was blind. Israeli forces claimed that he was a leader of Ezziddin al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas in Hebron.
9 apr 2002
Israeli occupation forces continued their offensive on Nablus and its refugee camps. Twelve Palestinians were killed in the old city, one of whom was identified as Rezeq ‘Abdulrahman Baker, 40, from Gaza. Two Palestinian civilians were also killed in ‘Askar refugee camp:
1. Hafezh Sabra, 60, hit by a tank shell;
2. Amjad Ahmed ‘Aabda, 11, hit by a tank shell.
At approximately 03:00 on Tuesday, Israeli occupation forces invaded Dura town, southwest of Hebron. They opened fire at houses, killing three Palestinian civilians:
1. Nayef Salem Sayed Ahmed, 35;
2. ‘Aaref Mahmoud Sayed Ahmed, 32; and
3. ‘Abdulqader Khalil Dudin, 25.
According to Mayor of Dura Mohammed Mousa Abu ‘Atwan, the first two were wounded at approximately 06:00. Israeli occupation forces prevented ambulances from evacuating them to hospital.
They bled until 11:00 when they died. The third was killed by Israeli forces near the building of the municipality at approximately 07:00.
At approximately 01:00, seven Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 100m into al-Salam neighborhood adjacent to the Egyptian border in the south of Rafah, under the cover of intense shelling.
The incursion continued up to 03:00, during which a Palestinian civilian, Helmi Mansour al-Sha’er, 44, was wounded by shrapnel in the face.
Israeli forces demolished a 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8 persons used to live, owned by Mohammed Hassan Abu Shawish. They destroyed electricity and water networks in the neighborhood. They also raided a number of houses.
At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupation forces in a tank in “Netzarim” settlement, south of Gaza City, for no apparent reason fired an artillery shell at Palestinian houses in al-Mughraqa area, approximately 400m away. A water motor, owned by Nasser Hassan ‘Azzam and his brothers, was destroyed, cutting water from their houses.
At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupation forces moved more than 1500m into the northeast of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. Four bulldozers escorted by tanks razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land and established sand barriers. The operation continued up to 03:00 on the following day. Following are details of the destruction of Palestinian agricultural land by Israeli forces:
1. They razed a 15-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Ahmed Yousef Shurrab.
2. They razed a 15-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Fadel Yousef Shurrab.
3. They razed a 10-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mohammed Yousef Shurrab.
4. They razed a 15-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Walid Yousef Shurrab.
5. They razed a 10-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Hassan Yousef Shurrab.
6. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Eihab Khaled Shurrab.
7. They razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by the heirs of Ahmed Helmi al-Basha.
8. They razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Yousef Mohammed al-Safadi.
9. They razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Abu Khaled al-Nakhala.
10. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mohammed Ahmed Jarada.
11. They destroyed 250 beehives owned by Tawfiq ‘Abdulrahman Wahdan.
12. They destroyed 50 beehives owned by Eyad ‘Abdullah Wahdan.
At approximately 11:10, Israeli occupation soldiers in a tank positioned near “Elli Sinai” settlement, north of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, fired at some Palestinian farmers who were farming their lands.
A farmer, Ra’ed Hassan Sa’da, 24, was wounded by a live bullet in the back.
At approximately 17:00, Israeli occupation forces at a military roadblock at al-Shuhada’ junction, south of Gaza City, indiscriminately opened fire Palestinian cars that were waiting to cross the roadblock.
Dunia Ra’fat Shahin, 11, was wounded by a live bullet in the left hand, while she was playing in the yard of her family’s house, approximately 300m away from the roadblock.
Israeli occupation forces continued their offensive on Nablus and its refugee camps. Twelve Palestinians were killed in the old city, one of whom was identified as Rezeq ‘Abdulrahman Baker, 40, from Gaza. Two Palestinian civilians were also killed in ‘Askar refugee camp:
1. Hafezh Sabra, 60, hit by a tank shell;
2. Amjad Ahmed ‘Aabda, 11, hit by a tank shell.
At approximately 03:00 on Tuesday, Israeli occupation forces invaded Dura town, southwest of Hebron. They opened fire at houses, killing three Palestinian civilians:
1. Nayef Salem Sayed Ahmed, 35;
2. ‘Aaref Mahmoud Sayed Ahmed, 32; and
3. ‘Abdulqader Khalil Dudin, 25.
According to Mayor of Dura Mohammed Mousa Abu ‘Atwan, the first two were wounded at approximately 06:00. Israeli occupation forces prevented ambulances from evacuating them to hospital.
They bled until 11:00 when they died. The third was killed by Israeli forces near the building of the municipality at approximately 07:00.
At approximately 01:00, seven Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 100m into al-Salam neighborhood adjacent to the Egyptian border in the south of Rafah, under the cover of intense shelling.
The incursion continued up to 03:00, during which a Palestinian civilian, Helmi Mansour al-Sha’er, 44, was wounded by shrapnel in the face.
Israeli forces demolished a 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8 persons used to live, owned by Mohammed Hassan Abu Shawish. They destroyed electricity and water networks in the neighborhood. They also raided a number of houses.
At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupation forces in a tank in “Netzarim” settlement, south of Gaza City, for no apparent reason fired an artillery shell at Palestinian houses in al-Mughraqa area, approximately 400m away. A water motor, owned by Nasser Hassan ‘Azzam and his brothers, was destroyed, cutting water from their houses.
At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupation forces moved more than 1500m into the northeast of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. Four bulldozers escorted by tanks razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land and established sand barriers. The operation continued up to 03:00 on the following day. Following are details of the destruction of Palestinian agricultural land by Israeli forces:
1. They razed a 15-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Ahmed Yousef Shurrab.
2. They razed a 15-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Fadel Yousef Shurrab.
3. They razed a 10-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mohammed Yousef Shurrab.
4. They razed a 15-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Walid Yousef Shurrab.
5. They razed a 10-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Hassan Yousef Shurrab.
6. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Eihab Khaled Shurrab.
7. They razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by the heirs of Ahmed Helmi al-Basha.
8. They razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Yousef Mohammed al-Safadi.
9. They razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Abu Khaled al-Nakhala.
10. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mohammed Ahmed Jarada.
11. They destroyed 250 beehives owned by Tawfiq ‘Abdulrahman Wahdan.
12. They destroyed 50 beehives owned by Eyad ‘Abdullah Wahdan.
At approximately 11:10, Israeli occupation soldiers in a tank positioned near “Elli Sinai” settlement, north of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, fired at some Palestinian farmers who were farming their lands.
A farmer, Ra’ed Hassan Sa’da, 24, was wounded by a live bullet in the back.
At approximately 17:00, Israeli occupation forces at a military roadblock at al-Shuhada’ junction, south of Gaza City, indiscriminately opened fire Palestinian cars that were waiting to cross the roadblock.
Dunia Ra’fat Shahin, 11, was wounded by a live bullet in the left hand, while she was playing in the yard of her family’s house, approximately 300m away from the roadblock.
8 apr 2002
On Monday morning, medical personnel of the Palestine Red Crescent Society discovered bodies of two Palestinians who were killed by Israeli occupation forces on Friday, 29 March, the first day of the Israeli offensive on Ramallah.
They were identified as Azhar al-‘Aameria, 34, from Jenin, hit by an artillery shell; and Ahmed al-Masri, 21, from Gaza, hit by a heavy caliber bullet in the head; both were members of the Palestinian Military Intelligence Service.
Sahin Mohammed Sahwil, 25, bled to death after he was wounded by a live bullet in the side.
At approximately 07:00, Israeli occupation forces in the vicinity of Tel al-Sultan roadblock in the west of Rafah fired at two Palestinian laborers who were on their way to their work in a settlement in al-Mawasi area in Rafah. The two were wounded:
1. Mahmoud ‘Abdelsalam Shaqfa, 20, wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet in the face; and
2. Yasser Hassan al-Sufi, 31, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh.
As part of their attacks against Palestinian fishermen, at approximately 16:00, Israeli naval forces in a gunboat fired at a Palestinian fishing boat that were sailing near Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. Two Palestinian fishermen were wounded:
1. Lu’ai Jom’a Zayed, 20, from Beit Lahia, wounded by a live bullet in the left foot; and
2. Ahmed Isma’il Zayed, 18, from Beit Lahia, wounded by a live bullet in the right arm.
At approximately 19:00, ‘Omran Hussein ‘Abdullah al-‘Oudeh, 26, from Deir ‘Ammar village in Ramallah district, was killed by a live bullet in the head. Al-‘Oudeh had earlier evacuated a sick relative of his to hospital. When he was on his way back to his village, Israeli occupation forces at ‘Ein ‘Arik roadblock shot him dead for no apparent reason.
At approximately 18:00 on the same day, Israeli occupation forces invaded the villages of ‘Ebwin and ‘Ajjul in Ramallah district. A number of Palestinian resistance fighters confronted the invading Israeli forces.
At approximately 18:30, Kamal ‘Abdulhadi Badran, 30, was killed by two live bullets in the head and the chest fired by an Israeli sniper. Badran was on his way home when the curfew was re-imposed after it was lifted for few hours.
In the evening, medical sources at Ramallah Hospital announced that 22-year-old ‘Ezziddin Taher Hassan succumbed to a wound in the head he sustained by Israeli occupation forces on the first day of the Israeli offensive on Ramallah, 29 March.
On Monday morning, 8 April, Israeli occupation forces surrounding the Church of Nativity opened fire at the Church. Fire broke out in a room of a priest. People inside the Church rushed to extinguish fire.
Israeli forces fired at them, killing 23-year-old Khaled Mousa Abu Siam with a live bullet in the head.
On Monday morning, medical personnel of the Palestine Red Crescent Society discovered bodies of two Palestinians who were killed by Israeli occupation forces on Friday, 29 March, the first day of the Israeli offensive on Ramallah.
They were identified as Azhar al-‘Aameria, 34, from Jenin, hit by an artillery shell; and Ahmed al-Masri, 21, from Gaza, hit by a heavy caliber bullet in the head; both were members of the Palestinian Military Intelligence Service.
Sahin Mohammed Sahwil, 25, bled to death after he was wounded by a live bullet in the side.
At approximately 07:00, Israeli occupation forces in the vicinity of Tel al-Sultan roadblock in the west of Rafah fired at two Palestinian laborers who were on their way to their work in a settlement in al-Mawasi area in Rafah. The two were wounded:
1. Mahmoud ‘Abdelsalam Shaqfa, 20, wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet in the face; and
2. Yasser Hassan al-Sufi, 31, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh.
As part of their attacks against Palestinian fishermen, at approximately 16:00, Israeli naval forces in a gunboat fired at a Palestinian fishing boat that were sailing near Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. Two Palestinian fishermen were wounded:
1. Lu’ai Jom’a Zayed, 20, from Beit Lahia, wounded by a live bullet in the left foot; and
2. Ahmed Isma’il Zayed, 18, from Beit Lahia, wounded by a live bullet in the right arm.
At approximately 19:00, ‘Omran Hussein ‘Abdullah al-‘Oudeh, 26, from Deir ‘Ammar village in Ramallah district, was killed by a live bullet in the head. Al-‘Oudeh had earlier evacuated a sick relative of his to hospital. When he was on his way back to his village, Israeli occupation forces at ‘Ein ‘Arik roadblock shot him dead for no apparent reason.
At approximately 18:00 on the same day, Israeli occupation forces invaded the villages of ‘Ebwin and ‘Ajjul in Ramallah district. A number of Palestinian resistance fighters confronted the invading Israeli forces.
At approximately 18:30, Kamal ‘Abdulhadi Badran, 30, was killed by two live bullets in the head and the chest fired by an Israeli sniper. Badran was on his way home when the curfew was re-imposed after it was lifted for few hours.
In the evening, medical sources at Ramallah Hospital announced that 22-year-old ‘Ezziddin Taher Hassan succumbed to a wound in the head he sustained by Israeli occupation forces on the first day of the Israeli offensive on Ramallah, 29 March.
On Monday morning, 8 April, Israeli occupation forces surrounding the Church of Nativity opened fire at the Church. Fire broke out in a room of a priest. People inside the Church rushed to extinguish fire.
Israeli forces fired at them, killing 23-year-old Khaled Mousa Abu Siam with a live bullet in the head.