31 dec 2002
At approximately 15:30, Israeli soldiers in tanks in the vicinity of the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in the town. Hassan Husni al-Sha'er, 15, was wounded by a live bullet in the head. PCHR's field worker in Rafah reported that the child was wounded when he was near his house in al-Jonaina neighborhood, approximately 1200 away from the border.
Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who have carried out attacks against Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces.
At approximately 11:00 on Tuesday, Israeli occupying forces surrounded the house of 'Abed Sa'ada Asmar at 'Awarta-Rujib junction, east of Nablus. They forced the 11 residents out of the 150-square-meter, two-story house and demolished it.
According to Asmar, Israeli forces also demolished his house in 1988 after one of his sons had carried out an armed attack against them. After the Oslo Accords, Asmar rebuilt the house, but again Israeli forces demolished it, claiming that he does not have the right to rebuild it.
At approximately 15:30, Israeli soldiers in tanks in the vicinity of the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in the town. Hassan Husni al-Sha'er, 15, was wounded by a live bullet in the head. PCHR's field worker in Rafah reported that the child was wounded when he was near his house in al-Jonaina neighborhood, approximately 1200 away from the border.
Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who have carried out attacks against Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces.
At approximately 11:00 on Tuesday, Israeli occupying forces surrounded the house of 'Abed Sa'ada Asmar at 'Awarta-Rujib junction, east of Nablus. They forced the 11 residents out of the 150-square-meter, two-story house and demolished it.
According to Asmar, Israeli forces also demolished his house in 1988 after one of his sons had carried out an armed attack against them. After the Oslo Accords, Asmar rebuilt the house, but again Israeli forces demolished it, claiming that he does not have the right to rebuild it.
30 dec 2002
At approximately 12:05, Israeli occupying forces moved into the old town of Nablus. They opened fire at Palestinian houses and passing civilians, wounding Jamal Zuhair Yousef Zabara, 20, with an explosive live bullet in the head. He was evacuated to hospital but was already clinically death. At approximately 12:40, he was pronounced dead.
At approximately 13:30, Israeli soldiers in a military jeep positioned opposite to 'Omar Ben al-Khattab School in al-Makhfia neighborhood in Nablus fired at Hamdi Ghazi Hamdan al-Sarwan, 16, wounding him with a live bullet in the back. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers fired at him when he exited school, while the area was completely quiet.
At approximately 14:00, Israeli soldiers on tanks and armored personnel carriers positioned at the northern entrance of Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, fired at Ahmed Isma'il Mutlaq al-Qeissi, 17, wounding him with a live bullet in the mouth. According to medical sources, al-Qeissi was wounded by an explosive bullet that cut a part of his tongue and fractured bones of the lower jaw, so he was in critical condition.
At approximately 17:00, Israeli soldiers on Wahba building in Hittin Street in Nablus fired, for no apparent reason, at Mo'ayad Hamed Mohammed Saleh al-Sayeh, 21, wounding him with a live bullet in the abdomen. According to medical sources, al-Sayeh is in critical condition, as the live bullet cut his intestines causing an internal hemorrhage.
In an apparent willful killing, Israeli soldiers in a military jeep opened fire from close distance at 'Aassem Fu'ad 'Abdul Rahman Massad, 37, from Faqqou'a village, north of Jenin, killing him with eight live bullets.
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 13:30, Massad was traveling in his private car from his village to Jenin through a branch road. When he crossed the Jenin-Nazareth road, north of Jenin, to get on a branch road leading to the town, an Israeli military jeep, coming from al-Jalama military checkpoint, chased him and collided with his car. None was hurt.
Massad stopped his car and got out of it with his hands up, but an Israeli soldier in the jeep shot him dead from a close distance.
Then, Israeli forces closed the area and denied Palestinian ambulances access. At approximately 15:30, Israeli forces allowed a Palestinian ambulance to evacuate the body to hospital. According to medical sources, Massad was shot by eight live bullets in the head, chest and abdomen.
Later, Israeli forces claimed that Massad was armed, but eyewitnesses refuted this claim and asserted that he got out of the car with his hands up.
A Palestinian Civilian Beaten to Death
At approximately 12:05, Israeli occupying forces moved into the old town of Nablus. They opened fire at Palestinian houses and passing civilians, wounding Jamal Zuhair Yousef Zabara, 20, with an explosive live bullet in the head. He was evacuated to hospital but was already clinically death. At approximately 12:40, he was pronounced dead.
At approximately 13:30, Israeli soldiers in a military jeep positioned opposite to 'Omar Ben al-Khattab School in al-Makhfia neighborhood in Nablus fired at Hamdi Ghazi Hamdan al-Sarwan, 16, wounding him with a live bullet in the back. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers fired at him when he exited school, while the area was completely quiet.
At approximately 14:00, Israeli soldiers on tanks and armored personnel carriers positioned at the northern entrance of Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, fired at Ahmed Isma'il Mutlaq al-Qeissi, 17, wounding him with a live bullet in the mouth. According to medical sources, al-Qeissi was wounded by an explosive bullet that cut a part of his tongue and fractured bones of the lower jaw, so he was in critical condition.
At approximately 17:00, Israeli soldiers on Wahba building in Hittin Street in Nablus fired, for no apparent reason, at Mo'ayad Hamed Mohammed Saleh al-Sayeh, 21, wounding him with a live bullet in the abdomen. According to medical sources, al-Sayeh is in critical condition, as the live bullet cut his intestines causing an internal hemorrhage.
In an apparent willful killing, Israeli soldiers in a military jeep opened fire from close distance at 'Aassem Fu'ad 'Abdul Rahman Massad, 37, from Faqqou'a village, north of Jenin, killing him with eight live bullets.
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 13:30, Massad was traveling in his private car from his village to Jenin through a branch road. When he crossed the Jenin-Nazareth road, north of Jenin, to get on a branch road leading to the town, an Israeli military jeep, coming from al-Jalama military checkpoint, chased him and collided with his car. None was hurt.
Massad stopped his car and got out of it with his hands up, but an Israeli soldier in the jeep shot him dead from a close distance.
Then, Israeli forces closed the area and denied Palestinian ambulances access. At approximately 15:30, Israeli forces allowed a Palestinian ambulance to evacuate the body to hospital. According to medical sources, Massad was shot by eight live bullets in the head, chest and abdomen.
Later, Israeli forces claimed that Massad was armed, but eyewitnesses refuted this claim and asserted that he got out of the car with his hands up.
A Palestinian Civilian Beaten to Death
On Monday evening, Israeli soldiers kidnapped 'Omran 'Abdul Ghani 'Omran Abu Hamdia, 17, from Hebron, and beat him to death.
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 20:15, while Abu Hamdia was with a number of neighbors in front of his house, an Israeli military jeep arrived at the area. The jeep stopped and Israeli soldiers got out of it. They checked the identity cards of the people in the area and ordered some of them to leave.
Then, they took Hamdia in the jeep to the south of the city. In the jeep, Israeli soldiers violently beat him and then pushed him out of the jeep onto the road, approximately 1500m away from his house. His neighbors and other people started searching for him.
Nearly 15 minutes later, they found him on the road near Shahin fuel station. They tried to evacuate him to hospital in a civilian car, but he died on the way. According to medical sources, the victim was severely beaten. He was bleeding from the nose, the ears and the mouth, which indicates that he suffered from an internal hemorrhage in the brain. There were also signs of beatings on the hands and the head.
Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who have carried out attacks against Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces.
At approximately 03:00 on Monday, Israeli occupying forces moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They surrounded the house of the family of Ahmed 'Aayed Ahmed al-Faqih, 20, in Naqat Noah area.
They gave the 11 residents of the 150-square-meter house nine minutes to evacuate their furniture. At approximately 05:30, Israeli forces destroyed it, claiming that the son, Ahmed, participated in an armed attack against "Otaniel" settlement on Friday, 27 December 2002. Israeli forces also arrested his father, 'Aayed al-Faqih, 41, his uncle, Tawifiq Hassan 'Obaid, and his neighbor, Ibrahim Hassan al-Talahma, 26, who helped the family evacuate their furniture.
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 20:15, while Abu Hamdia was with a number of neighbors in front of his house, an Israeli military jeep arrived at the area. The jeep stopped and Israeli soldiers got out of it. They checked the identity cards of the people in the area and ordered some of them to leave.
Then, they took Hamdia in the jeep to the south of the city. In the jeep, Israeli soldiers violently beat him and then pushed him out of the jeep onto the road, approximately 1500m away from his house. His neighbors and other people started searching for him.
Nearly 15 minutes later, they found him on the road near Shahin fuel station. They tried to evacuate him to hospital in a civilian car, but he died on the way. According to medical sources, the victim was severely beaten. He was bleeding from the nose, the ears and the mouth, which indicates that he suffered from an internal hemorrhage in the brain. There were also signs of beatings on the hands and the head.
Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who have carried out attacks against Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces.
At approximately 03:00 on Monday, Israeli occupying forces moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They surrounded the house of the family of Ahmed 'Aayed Ahmed al-Faqih, 20, in Naqat Noah area.
They gave the 11 residents of the 150-square-meter house nine minutes to evacuate their furniture. At approximately 05:30, Israeli forces destroyed it, claiming that the son, Ahmed, participated in an armed attack against "Otaniel" settlement on Friday, 27 December 2002. Israeli forces also arrested his father, 'Aayed al-Faqih, 41, his uncle, Tawifiq Hassan 'Obaid, and his neighbor, Ibrahim Hassan al-Talahma, 26, who helped the family evacuate their furniture.
29 dec 2002
In an apparent willful killing, Israeli soldiers in a tank and in a number of military jeeps, positioned opposite the 'Ezbat al-Jarad village east of Tulkarm, opened fire at a number of Palestinian school children, who were on their way home after having finished their midterm exams. A child was killed and another was wounded.
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 10:00, while school children of al-Salam elementary school were on their way home, Israeli soldiers in a tank and in a number of military jeeps, positioned opposite the school, which is located at the entrance of 'Ezbat al-Jarad village, provoked them. A number of children gathered and threw stones towards the Israeli military vehicles.
Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the children. 'Abdul Karim Yasser 'Abdul Karim Salama, 11, was killed by a live bullet in the head, and 'Aassef Mohammed Sharshir, 12, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right leg.
According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers fired at the children from a distance of only 30m, without the children having posed any threat to the lives of soldiers.
At approximately 12:30, Israeli soldiers at a military checkpoint at the entrance of the al-Mawasi area in the west of Rafah opened fire at local and international participants in a sit-in organized by residents of the area. The aim of the sit-in was to call on the Israelis to allow residents of al-Mawasi to go back to the area through the checkpoint, which has been closed since 6 November 2002. Twenty members of the International Solidarity Movement participated in the sit-in, which took place approximately 200m away from the Israeli military checkpoint.
Tamer Nasser al-Din Sa'di Ziara, 20, a cameraman of the Associated Press, was wounded by a live bullet in the head. PCHR's field worker in Rafah reported that Ziara was wearing a suit that had the press badge and that the there had been no clashes in the area.
On Sunday, Hussein Mahmoud 'Abdul Hamid al-Tamimi, 56, from Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, died as Israeli forces and settlers obstructed his evacuation to hospital.
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 12:30, al-Tamimi, the headmaster of an elementary school, felt sick. He went to a doctor in the village who recommended his transfer to hospital. His son Ramzi took him in a taxi to go to hospital. When they arrived at the junction of "Halmish" settlement, Israeli soldiers stopped them for 15 minutes and then allowed their passage.
When they arrived at the junction of 'Ein Kina village, west of Ramallah, a number of Israeli settlers stopped them and called the Israeli forces. Israeli soldiers denied them passage.
Ramzi asked the soldiers to check his father or call an ambulance, but they refused and stopped them for nearly an hour. At approximately 15:00, al-Tamimi arrived at hospital in Ramallah dead. According to medical sources, he died an hour earlier from a heart clot and that obstruction of his access to hospital contributed to the deterioration of his condition.
In an apparent willful killing, Israeli soldiers in a tank and in a number of military jeeps, positioned opposite the 'Ezbat al-Jarad village east of Tulkarm, opened fire at a number of Palestinian school children, who were on their way home after having finished their midterm exams. A child was killed and another was wounded.
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 10:00, while school children of al-Salam elementary school were on their way home, Israeli soldiers in a tank and in a number of military jeeps, positioned opposite the school, which is located at the entrance of 'Ezbat al-Jarad village, provoked them. A number of children gathered and threw stones towards the Israeli military vehicles.
Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the children. 'Abdul Karim Yasser 'Abdul Karim Salama, 11, was killed by a live bullet in the head, and 'Aassef Mohammed Sharshir, 12, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right leg.
According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers fired at the children from a distance of only 30m, without the children having posed any threat to the lives of soldiers.
At approximately 12:30, Israeli soldiers at a military checkpoint at the entrance of the al-Mawasi area in the west of Rafah opened fire at local and international participants in a sit-in organized by residents of the area. The aim of the sit-in was to call on the Israelis to allow residents of al-Mawasi to go back to the area through the checkpoint, which has been closed since 6 November 2002. Twenty members of the International Solidarity Movement participated in the sit-in, which took place approximately 200m away from the Israeli military checkpoint.
Tamer Nasser al-Din Sa'di Ziara, 20, a cameraman of the Associated Press, was wounded by a live bullet in the head. PCHR's field worker in Rafah reported that Ziara was wearing a suit that had the press badge and that the there had been no clashes in the area.
On Sunday, Hussein Mahmoud 'Abdul Hamid al-Tamimi, 56, from Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, died as Israeli forces and settlers obstructed his evacuation to hospital.
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 12:30, al-Tamimi, the headmaster of an elementary school, felt sick. He went to a doctor in the village who recommended his transfer to hospital. His son Ramzi took him in a taxi to go to hospital. When they arrived at the junction of "Halmish" settlement, Israeli soldiers stopped them for 15 minutes and then allowed their passage.
When they arrived at the junction of 'Ein Kina village, west of Ramallah, a number of Israeli settlers stopped them and called the Israeli forces. Israeli soldiers denied them passage.
Ramzi asked the soldiers to check his father or call an ambulance, but they refused and stopped them for nearly an hour. At approximately 15:00, al-Tamimi arrived at hospital in Ramallah dead. According to medical sources, he died an hour earlier from a heart clot and that obstruction of his access to hospital contributed to the deterioration of his condition.
28 dec 2002
At approximately 14:00, Israeli forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 600m into al-Birka area in the southwest of Deir al-Balah. An Israeli military bulldozer started razing areas of Palestinian agricultural land.
In the evening, Hanin 'Abdul Qader Abu Suleiman, 8, from al-Nimsawi neighborhood in Khan Yunis, was killed by a live bullet fired by Israeli soldiers positioned in military locations in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of the town. In his testimony to PCHR, the victim's father, 'Abdul Qader Saleh 'Abdul Qader Abu Suleiman, 54, said:
"At approximately 17:00 on Saturday, while I was sitting with my child Hanin, 8, and my other children in the street close to my house, approximately 700m east of 'Neve Dekalim' settlement, I heard sounds of intense shooting coming from a military location in the settlement. My children and I ran towards our house to avoid being injured.
Hanin fell to the ground. I ran to her and noticed that she was bleeding from the head. Immediately, I took her in a civilian car to Nasser Hospital. There, doctors informed me that she was critically wounded by a live bullet in the head. Few minutes later, an ambulance transferred her to the European Hospital in Khan Yunis. On the way to the hospital, a paramedic told me that her heart stopped beating. When we arrived at the hospital, she was dead."
At approximately 18:30, Israeli forces at the northern border of the Gaza Strip, north of Beit Hanoun, fired three flechette shells (tank shells containing up to 10,000 flechettes) at two Palestinian civilians who were approximately 2000m south of the border. The two were wounded by shrapnel:
1. Mohammed Samih Zaki al-Kafarna, 22, seriously wounded by shrapnel in the neck; and
2. Mahmoud 'Omar Jaber 'Abdu, 28, wounded by shrapnel in the right thigh
Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who have carried out attacks against Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces.
At approximately 07:00 on Saturday, 28 December 2002, Israeli forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They surrounded the house of the family of Martyr Jamil Hammad Hamad Abu 'Atwan in al-Tabaqa neighborhood. They forced the eight residents of the 240-square-meter house out and destroyed it.
At approximately 08:30 on the same day, Israeli forces surrounded the house of 'Abdul Rahim 'Abdul 'Aziz al-Malalha, 27, in Rajam Abu Hilal area in Dura village. They forced the three residents out of the 140-square-meter, two-story house and destroyed it. Israeli forces claim that Talahma is wanted for being a member of the Islamic Jihad.
At approximately 14:00, Israeli forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 600m into al-Birka area in the southwest of Deir al-Balah. An Israeli military bulldozer started razing areas of Palestinian agricultural land.
In the evening, Hanin 'Abdul Qader Abu Suleiman, 8, from al-Nimsawi neighborhood in Khan Yunis, was killed by a live bullet fired by Israeli soldiers positioned in military locations in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of the town. In his testimony to PCHR, the victim's father, 'Abdul Qader Saleh 'Abdul Qader Abu Suleiman, 54, said:
"At approximately 17:00 on Saturday, while I was sitting with my child Hanin, 8, and my other children in the street close to my house, approximately 700m east of 'Neve Dekalim' settlement, I heard sounds of intense shooting coming from a military location in the settlement. My children and I ran towards our house to avoid being injured.
Hanin fell to the ground. I ran to her and noticed that she was bleeding from the head. Immediately, I took her in a civilian car to Nasser Hospital. There, doctors informed me that she was critically wounded by a live bullet in the head. Few minutes later, an ambulance transferred her to the European Hospital in Khan Yunis. On the way to the hospital, a paramedic told me that her heart stopped beating. When we arrived at the hospital, she was dead."
At approximately 18:30, Israeli forces at the northern border of the Gaza Strip, north of Beit Hanoun, fired three flechette shells (tank shells containing up to 10,000 flechettes) at two Palestinian civilians who were approximately 2000m south of the border. The two were wounded by shrapnel:
1. Mohammed Samih Zaki al-Kafarna, 22, seriously wounded by shrapnel in the neck; and
2. Mahmoud 'Omar Jaber 'Abdu, 28, wounded by shrapnel in the right thigh
Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who have carried out attacks against Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces.
At approximately 07:00 on Saturday, 28 December 2002, Israeli forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They surrounded the house of the family of Martyr Jamil Hammad Hamad Abu 'Atwan in al-Tabaqa neighborhood. They forced the eight residents of the 240-square-meter house out and destroyed it.
At approximately 08:30 on the same day, Israeli forces surrounded the house of 'Abdul Rahim 'Abdul 'Aziz al-Malalha, 27, in Rajam Abu Hilal area in Dura village. They forced the three residents out of the 140-square-meter, two-story house and destroyed it. Israeli forces claim that Talahma is wanted for being a member of the Islamic Jihad.
27 dec 2002
At approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of "Gani Tal" settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses and agricultural land in al-Rabwat area in the northwest of the town. They also fire flare in the air. A flare fell onto an agricultural store and an animal farm owned by Suleiman Ahmed al-Astal. The store and the farm burnt down and a number of animals died. The Palestinian Civil Defense was called to put out the fire before it spread to nearby houses.
At approximately 18:30, Israeli soldiers on a gunboat that was sailing near Beit Lahia coast in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of Palestinian fishing boats that had stopped there. Three boats, owned by Khaled Radwan Baker and his brothers, burnt, and two other boats, owned by Sa'id Mohammed Abu Riala, were severely damaged.
PCHR's field worker in the northern Gaza Strip reports that the boats were empty and that the shooting took place without any prior warning as the area had not witnessed any incidents. The Palestinian fishermen were not able to put out the fire as the Israeli gunfire lasted for two hours.
At approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of "Gani Tal" settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses and agricultural land in al-Rabwat area in the northwest of the town. They also fire flare in the air. A flare fell onto an agricultural store and an animal farm owned by Suleiman Ahmed al-Astal. The store and the farm burnt down and a number of animals died. The Palestinian Civil Defense was called to put out the fire before it spread to nearby houses.
At approximately 18:30, Israeli soldiers on a gunboat that was sailing near Beit Lahia coast in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of Palestinian fishing boats that had stopped there. Three boats, owned by Khaled Radwan Baker and his brothers, burnt, and two other boats, owned by Sa'id Mohammed Abu Riala, were severely damaged.
PCHR's field worker in the northern Gaza Strip reports that the boats were empty and that the shooting took place without any prior warning as the area had not witnessed any incidents. The Palestinian fishermen were not able to put out the fire as the Israeli gunfire lasted for two hours.
26 dec 2002
At approximately 10:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into the old town of Nablus, chasing a number of Palestinians allegedly wanted by the Israelis. Israeli soldiers took position inside a number of houses, from which they fired at passing Palestinians.
Mohammed Mohye al-Din 'Aashour, 17, was killed by two live bullets in the chest. According to eyewitnesses, 'Ashour was shot dead while he was on his way to school without having done anything that may have raised suspicions.
According to 'Abdul Rahim 'Omar al-Qussini, 35, a journalist working in the city, the area where 'Aashour was killed was totally calm and the distance between Israeli soldiers and the victim was no more than 20m.
In an apparent willful killing, in the afternoon, Israeli soldiers broke into Ramallah Hospital and fired at its guards, killing one of them. According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 15:25, while five guards of Ramallah Hospital were sitting inside their guardroom, they heard knocking on the door.
One of the guards, Samer Khalil Mohammed al-Shamali, 25, a policeman from al-Amari refugee camp, opened the door. A strange man was standing there. He asked al-Shamali for water, claiming that his car was hot. When al-Shamali went to bring water, he and his colleagues were surprised by three persons in civilian clothes pointing their pistols towards them through the windows. Al-Shamali went to the bathroom.
The armed persons opened fire at the room from a distance of 1m. Al-Shamali was wounded by two live bullets. His colleagues were not hurt as they were lying on the ground while the shooting continued for 30 minutes. When the fire ceased, the guards who survived got out of the room surrendered. Israeli soldiers checked their identity cards and interrogated them.
Then, Israeli soldiers arrested the four guards. They were taken to "Beit 'Eil" detention center, where they were severely beaten. Three of them were released several hours later, while the fourth, Hassan Mohammed al-Turabi, 23, from Surra village in Nablus, remained in custody.
At approximately 11:00, Israeli soldiers on tanks in the vicinity of "Enab" settlement, east of Tulkarm, fired live ammunition and sound bombs at Palestinian houses in Ramin village.
A sound bomb fell near Moraweh Hussein 'Othman, 55, while he was near his house, and caused him a heart attack. Immediately, his relatives evacuated hi to hospital, but he died before arriving at hospital.
Extra-Judicial Assassinations
In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassinations officially adopted by the Israeli authorities against Palestinian activists, the Israeli occupying forces, on Thursday, perpetrated three extra-judicial assassinations in the West Bank that left four Palestinians dead.
At approximately 02:00, ten heavy military vehicles, a number of Israeli military jeeps and an Israeli ambulance moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They seized control over the village. Then, they moved to the western area of the village, where they surrounded a number of Palestinian houses and mounted others. At approximately 02:35, they called on Bilal Helmi 'Ezzat Abu al-Rub through loudspeakers to evacuate his house.
Afterwards they interrogated him, beat him and his family, and put him in a pool of rainwater. Then the Israeli soldiers forced him to go to his neighbor's house, Yousef Mohammed Khalil Abu al-Rub, 40, known as "Hamza", to tell him to leave the house.
The wife and children left the house, while Hamza remained inside. Israeli soldiers then forced the wife and children to go back to the house and tell him to surrender. Hamza got out of the door and informed the Israeli soldiers of his intention to surrender with the presence of the ICRC or any other international agency to ensure his safety, but they refused.
Israeli snipers positioned on neighboring buildings fired at him. He was killed by ten live bullets throughout the body, including the head and the chest. After Israeli soldiers forced neighbors to remove his body, they destroyed the house.
At approximately 11:30, an undercover unit, reinforced with Israeli troops, infiltrated the western part of Tulkarm. They surrounded the house of Jamal Nader Mohammed Yahia, 32.
They knocked the door and Yahia opened it without knowing who was there. Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire at him from a very close distance. He was wounded by seven live bullets throughout the body, including in the neck, the chest and the abdomen. Israeli soldiers did not allow Palestinians to offer him help.
Soon, other Israeli forces arrived at the area to support the undercover unit. They forced people away from Yahia and left him bleeding to death. Then, they took his body and withdrew from the area.
At the same time, an Israeli undercover unit moved in a truck, which had a Palestinian license number, into al-Manara square in the center of Ramallah. The truck stopped there. When Bassam Lutfi al-Ashqar, 26, from 'Ein 'Arik village in Ramallah, passed by the area in his private car, a number of gunmen got out of the truck and fired at him from a close distance, killing him with two live bullets in the head and the abdomen.
When Palestinians discovered the presence of the Israeli undercover unit in the area, they tried to attack them, but a number of Israeli military jeeps arrived at the area and opened fire.
Mahdi Samir 'Obaid, 17, from Ramallah, was critically wounded by three live bullets in the chest and the abdomen. He was evacuated to hospital, but all efforts made to save his life failed. Israeli forces took al-Ashqar's body and withdrew from the area.
Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who have carried out attacks against Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces.
At approximately 06:30 on Thursday, Israeli forces destroyed the 180-square-meter house of Yousef Mohammed Khalil Abu al-Rub, 40, after they had assassinated him. Abu al-Rub lived in the house with his wife and three children. He rented it after his house had been destroyed by Israeli forces
At approximately 10:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into the old town of Nablus, chasing a number of Palestinians allegedly wanted by the Israelis. Israeli soldiers took position inside a number of houses, from which they fired at passing Palestinians.
Mohammed Mohye al-Din 'Aashour, 17, was killed by two live bullets in the chest. According to eyewitnesses, 'Ashour was shot dead while he was on his way to school without having done anything that may have raised suspicions.
According to 'Abdul Rahim 'Omar al-Qussini, 35, a journalist working in the city, the area where 'Aashour was killed was totally calm and the distance between Israeli soldiers and the victim was no more than 20m.
In an apparent willful killing, in the afternoon, Israeli soldiers broke into Ramallah Hospital and fired at its guards, killing one of them. According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 15:25, while five guards of Ramallah Hospital were sitting inside their guardroom, they heard knocking on the door.
One of the guards, Samer Khalil Mohammed al-Shamali, 25, a policeman from al-Amari refugee camp, opened the door. A strange man was standing there. He asked al-Shamali for water, claiming that his car was hot. When al-Shamali went to bring water, he and his colleagues were surprised by three persons in civilian clothes pointing their pistols towards them through the windows. Al-Shamali went to the bathroom.
The armed persons opened fire at the room from a distance of 1m. Al-Shamali was wounded by two live bullets. His colleagues were not hurt as they were lying on the ground while the shooting continued for 30 minutes. When the fire ceased, the guards who survived got out of the room surrendered. Israeli soldiers checked their identity cards and interrogated them.
Then, Israeli soldiers arrested the four guards. They were taken to "Beit 'Eil" detention center, where they were severely beaten. Three of them were released several hours later, while the fourth, Hassan Mohammed al-Turabi, 23, from Surra village in Nablus, remained in custody.
At approximately 11:00, Israeli soldiers on tanks in the vicinity of "Enab" settlement, east of Tulkarm, fired live ammunition and sound bombs at Palestinian houses in Ramin village.
A sound bomb fell near Moraweh Hussein 'Othman, 55, while he was near his house, and caused him a heart attack. Immediately, his relatives evacuated hi to hospital, but he died before arriving at hospital.
Extra-Judicial Assassinations
In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassinations officially adopted by the Israeli authorities against Palestinian activists, the Israeli occupying forces, on Thursday, perpetrated three extra-judicial assassinations in the West Bank that left four Palestinians dead.
At approximately 02:00, ten heavy military vehicles, a number of Israeli military jeeps and an Israeli ambulance moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They seized control over the village. Then, they moved to the western area of the village, where they surrounded a number of Palestinian houses and mounted others. At approximately 02:35, they called on Bilal Helmi 'Ezzat Abu al-Rub through loudspeakers to evacuate his house.
Afterwards they interrogated him, beat him and his family, and put him in a pool of rainwater. Then the Israeli soldiers forced him to go to his neighbor's house, Yousef Mohammed Khalil Abu al-Rub, 40, known as "Hamza", to tell him to leave the house.
The wife and children left the house, while Hamza remained inside. Israeli soldiers then forced the wife and children to go back to the house and tell him to surrender. Hamza got out of the door and informed the Israeli soldiers of his intention to surrender with the presence of the ICRC or any other international agency to ensure his safety, but they refused.
Israeli snipers positioned on neighboring buildings fired at him. He was killed by ten live bullets throughout the body, including the head and the chest. After Israeli soldiers forced neighbors to remove his body, they destroyed the house.
At approximately 11:30, an undercover unit, reinforced with Israeli troops, infiltrated the western part of Tulkarm. They surrounded the house of Jamal Nader Mohammed Yahia, 32.
They knocked the door and Yahia opened it without knowing who was there. Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire at him from a very close distance. He was wounded by seven live bullets throughout the body, including in the neck, the chest and the abdomen. Israeli soldiers did not allow Palestinians to offer him help.
Soon, other Israeli forces arrived at the area to support the undercover unit. They forced people away from Yahia and left him bleeding to death. Then, they took his body and withdrew from the area.
At the same time, an Israeli undercover unit moved in a truck, which had a Palestinian license number, into al-Manara square in the center of Ramallah. The truck stopped there. When Bassam Lutfi al-Ashqar, 26, from 'Ein 'Arik village in Ramallah, passed by the area in his private car, a number of gunmen got out of the truck and fired at him from a close distance, killing him with two live bullets in the head and the abdomen.
When Palestinians discovered the presence of the Israeli undercover unit in the area, they tried to attack them, but a number of Israeli military jeeps arrived at the area and opened fire.
Mahdi Samir 'Obaid, 17, from Ramallah, was critically wounded by three live bullets in the chest and the abdomen. He was evacuated to hospital, but all efforts made to save his life failed. Israeli forces took al-Ashqar's body and withdrew from the area.
Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who have carried out attacks against Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces.
At approximately 06:30 on Thursday, Israeli forces destroyed the 180-square-meter house of Yousef Mohammed Khalil Abu al-Rub, 40, after they had assassinated him. Abu al-Rub lived in the house with his wife and three children. He rented it after his house had been destroyed by Israeli forces
25 dec 2002
Extra-Judicial Assassination
At approximately 02:00hrs on Wednesday, while Taleb Mohammed Abu Hawash, 32, from Nablus, was in a flat on the second floor of an apartment building in Ras al-'Ein neighbourhood in Nablus, Israeli occupying forces surrounded the building and made their way quietly into the flat where Hawash was.
After a 4-hour detention, without the neighbours having been aware of what he was being subjected to by the Israeli forces, the neighbors heard sounds of two live bullets at approximately 06:15hrs. Israeli forces withdrew from the building at approximately 09:00hrs. Then, the neighbours entered the flat where they found Hawash dead.
They evacuated him to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus. According to medical sources, he was shot by two explosive bullets that entered the left thigh and settled in the right one, causing massive hemorrhaging that led to his death.
Israeli forces announced that they had carried out the action, claiming that Hawash was wanted and they went to arrest him but that he fired at them, so on account of this the Israeli soldiers shot him dead. However, neighbors asserted that they did not hear an exchange of fire.
Extra-Judicial Assassination
At approximately 02:00hrs on Wednesday, while Taleb Mohammed Abu Hawash, 32, from Nablus, was in a flat on the second floor of an apartment building in Ras al-'Ein neighbourhood in Nablus, Israeli occupying forces surrounded the building and made their way quietly into the flat where Hawash was.
After a 4-hour detention, without the neighbours having been aware of what he was being subjected to by the Israeli forces, the neighbors heard sounds of two live bullets at approximately 06:15hrs. Israeli forces withdrew from the building at approximately 09:00hrs. Then, the neighbours entered the flat where they found Hawash dead.
They evacuated him to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus. According to medical sources, he was shot by two explosive bullets that entered the left thigh and settled in the right one, causing massive hemorrhaging that led to his death.
Israeli forces announced that they had carried out the action, claiming that Hawash was wanted and they went to arrest him but that he fired at them, so on account of this the Israeli soldiers shot him dead. However, neighbors asserted that they did not hear an exchange of fire.
24 dec 2002
In yet another illegal action as proscribed by international law, Israeli occupying forces fired three Flechette shells at a Palestinian child in Jabaliya, killing him instantly.
According to PCHR's investigation and eyewitnesses' testimonies, at approximately 12:30hrs, Mohammed Fikri Mubarak Bureik, 14, and 'Abdul 'Aziz Hussin al-Muta, 22, both from Jabalya, were in a cow farm, owned by al-Muta, where Bureik used to work because of his bad living conditions, located nearly 700m west of the eastern border of the Gaza Strip.
Few minutes later, they went to an area located nearly 500m away from the border, to gather wood to set a fire as it was cold. As soon as Israeli soldiers on a tank positioned near the border noticed them, they fired three Flechette shells at the area. Al-Muta was wounded by shrapnel and was able to run towards the main road. There, he informed members of the Palestinian National Security Force about the incident. Soon, security men hurried to the area and were able to evacuate Bureik who was dead.
According to medical sources, Bureik was hit by the flechettes from the shell in the chest, while al-Muta was seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body.
At approximately 12:45hrs, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, fired at a number of Palestinian children and young men who threw stones towards them. Mohammed Nasser Eslayeh, 19, was wounded by a live bullet in the left foot.
At approximately 14:00hrs, Israeli occupying forces in a military location east of Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah, fired at Eyad Salem 'Othman Abu Sha'ar, 12, for no apparent reason, while on his way back home.
He was critically wounded by a live bullet in the neck. He was evacuated to the intensive care unit at Shifa' Hospital in Gaza City.
In an apparent willful killing, an Israeli armored personnel carrier chased and smashed a civilian car in Jenin, killing a passenger and injuring the driver.
According to the information available to PCHR, at approximately 19:00hrs, 'Abdullah Nazhmi 'Abdullah Salah Rabai'a, 29, from Maithaloun village, southeast of Jenin, was traveling in a civilian car that had an Israeli registration number, which was driven by his relative, Bassel Jamal Rabai'a, on their way back home from their work in Israel.
When the car arrived at a junction in al-Fawar area, approximately 2000m away from the Rabai'a's house, an Israeli armored personnel carrier, with lights off, moved towards the car and chased it. The driver moved the car towards the left and then stopped. Nevertheless, the armored carrier chased the car and mounted over it.
'Abdullah Rabai'a tried to jump out of the car, but he was not able and he was killed by fractures and injuries throughout the body. The driver was also injured.
According to eyewitnesses, it was nearly impossible to remove Rabai'a's body from the car and Israeli soldiers prevented a Palestinian ambulance from evacuating the injured driver to hospital, so they were forced to carry him towards a nearby clinic.
In yet another illegal action as proscribed by international law, Israeli occupying forces fired three Flechette shells at a Palestinian child in Jabaliya, killing him instantly.
According to PCHR's investigation and eyewitnesses' testimonies, at approximately 12:30hrs, Mohammed Fikri Mubarak Bureik, 14, and 'Abdul 'Aziz Hussin al-Muta, 22, both from Jabalya, were in a cow farm, owned by al-Muta, where Bureik used to work because of his bad living conditions, located nearly 700m west of the eastern border of the Gaza Strip.
Few minutes later, they went to an area located nearly 500m away from the border, to gather wood to set a fire as it was cold. As soon as Israeli soldiers on a tank positioned near the border noticed them, they fired three Flechette shells at the area. Al-Muta was wounded by shrapnel and was able to run towards the main road. There, he informed members of the Palestinian National Security Force about the incident. Soon, security men hurried to the area and were able to evacuate Bureik who was dead.
According to medical sources, Bureik was hit by the flechettes from the shell in the chest, while al-Muta was seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body.
At approximately 12:45hrs, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, fired at a number of Palestinian children and young men who threw stones towards them. Mohammed Nasser Eslayeh, 19, was wounded by a live bullet in the left foot.
At approximately 14:00hrs, Israeli occupying forces in a military location east of Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah, fired at Eyad Salem 'Othman Abu Sha'ar, 12, for no apparent reason, while on his way back home.
He was critically wounded by a live bullet in the neck. He was evacuated to the intensive care unit at Shifa' Hospital in Gaza City.
In an apparent willful killing, an Israeli armored personnel carrier chased and smashed a civilian car in Jenin, killing a passenger and injuring the driver.
According to the information available to PCHR, at approximately 19:00hrs, 'Abdullah Nazhmi 'Abdullah Salah Rabai'a, 29, from Maithaloun village, southeast of Jenin, was traveling in a civilian car that had an Israeli registration number, which was driven by his relative, Bassel Jamal Rabai'a, on their way back home from their work in Israel.
When the car arrived at a junction in al-Fawar area, approximately 2000m away from the Rabai'a's house, an Israeli armored personnel carrier, with lights off, moved towards the car and chased it. The driver moved the car towards the left and then stopped. Nevertheless, the armored carrier chased the car and mounted over it.
'Abdullah Rabai'a tried to jump out of the car, but he was not able and he was killed by fractures and injuries throughout the body. The driver was also injured.
According to eyewitnesses, it was nearly impossible to remove Rabai'a's body from the car and Israeli soldiers prevented a Palestinian ambulance from evacuating the injured driver to hospital, so they were forced to carry him towards a nearby clinic.
23 dec 2002
Throughout the day, Israeli occupying forces destroyed eight Palestinian houses, three brick factories and a cow farm near the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, where they have been continuing the construction of an iron wall along the border since 10 October 2002. For the sake of constructing that wall dozens of Palestinian houses in Rafah refugee camp were destroyed.
According to PCHR's investigation, at approximately 12:00hrs, four tanks and four armored military bulldozers of Israeli forces, covered by intense shelling, moved approximately 100m into Block J in Rafah refugee camp adjacent to the Egyptian border. They demolished three Palestinian houses, three brick and a cow farm.
PCHR's field officer in Rafah reported that Israeli forces stopped the destruction of Palestinian civilian property at approximately 19:00hrs. Nevertheless, at approximately 23:00hrs, more Israeli heavy military vehicles, reinforced with helicopters, arrived at the area. They then started where they left off and continued to demolish the houses. They demolished four Palestinian houses and destroyed a fifth one, severely damaging 18 houses and a mosque. Two Palestinian civilians were also injured.
At approximately 19:00hrs, Israeli occupying forces in military outposts in the vicinity of the “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis in the south of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp and al-Nimsawi neighborhood. A Palestinian civilian, Nafez Mahmoud Huneideq, 36, was wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet in the left foot.
At approximately 13:30hrs, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of the “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, fired at a number of Palestinian children who threw stones towards them. One of the children, Yasser ‘Ali Musallam Abu Ghanem, 14, was wounded by a live bullet in the right hand.
Extra-Judicial Assassination
In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassinations officially adopted by the Israeli political and military establishments against Palestinian activists.
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 13:15hrs on Monday, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces, traveling in a civilian car with a Palestinian registration number, attacked Mustafa Jalal Saleh Baqqas, 30, and Shaman Hussein Mohammed Subeh, 29, from Burqin village in Jenin.
They were riding a tractor on a branch road in Wad Hassan area, nearly 3km away from their village. Israeli soldiers opened fire at the two men, killing them instantly. According to Palestinian medical sources, they were shot in the upper part of the body and they were attacked from behind. Israeli occupying forces claimed that the two men were on their way to carry out a bombing inside Israel and that they were wanted for being members of Hamas.
Throughout the day, Israeli occupying forces destroyed eight Palestinian houses, three brick factories and a cow farm near the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, where they have been continuing the construction of an iron wall along the border since 10 October 2002. For the sake of constructing that wall dozens of Palestinian houses in Rafah refugee camp were destroyed.
According to PCHR's investigation, at approximately 12:00hrs, four tanks and four armored military bulldozers of Israeli forces, covered by intense shelling, moved approximately 100m into Block J in Rafah refugee camp adjacent to the Egyptian border. They demolished three Palestinian houses, three brick and a cow farm.
PCHR's field officer in Rafah reported that Israeli forces stopped the destruction of Palestinian civilian property at approximately 19:00hrs. Nevertheless, at approximately 23:00hrs, more Israeli heavy military vehicles, reinforced with helicopters, arrived at the area. They then started where they left off and continued to demolish the houses. They demolished four Palestinian houses and destroyed a fifth one, severely damaging 18 houses and a mosque. Two Palestinian civilians were also injured.
At approximately 19:00hrs, Israeli occupying forces in military outposts in the vicinity of the “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis in the south of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp and al-Nimsawi neighborhood. A Palestinian civilian, Nafez Mahmoud Huneideq, 36, was wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet in the left foot.
At approximately 13:30hrs, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of the “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, fired at a number of Palestinian children who threw stones towards them. One of the children, Yasser ‘Ali Musallam Abu Ghanem, 14, was wounded by a live bullet in the right hand.
Extra-Judicial Assassination
In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassinations officially adopted by the Israeli political and military establishments against Palestinian activists.
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 13:15hrs on Monday, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces, traveling in a civilian car with a Palestinian registration number, attacked Mustafa Jalal Saleh Baqqas, 30, and Shaman Hussein Mohammed Subeh, 29, from Burqin village in Jenin.
They were riding a tractor on a branch road in Wad Hassan area, nearly 3km away from their village. Israeli soldiers opened fire at the two men, killing them instantly. According to Palestinian medical sources, they were shot in the upper part of the body and they were attacked from behind. Israeli occupying forces claimed that the two men were on their way to carry out a bombing inside Israel and that they were wanted for being members of Hamas.
22 dec 2002
At approximately 22:45hrs, Israeli occupying forces positioned along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at al-Shouka neighborhood in the southeast of the town. A Palestinian woman, Noura Eshteiwi al-Bahaisa, 35, was wounded by a live bullet in the left leg, while she was inside her house, approximately 500m away from the border.
Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international and humanitarian law which prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who have carried out attacks against Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces.
On Sunday morning, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces, covered by intense shelling, moved approximately 600m into al-Salam neighborhood adjacent to the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. Israeli soldiers raided seven houses and forced their residents out.
Then, they destroyed two houses owned by Murad and 'Emad Ahmed 'Abdul 'Aal. Six neighboring houses were also damaged. PCHR's field officer in Rafah reported that the two brothers had bought the houses in May 2001 from their relative, Yasser 'Atwa 'Abdul 'Aal, whose brother Mohammed was assassinated by Israeli forces on 2 April 2001.
Owners of the houses lost amounts of money and some jewelry.
At approximately 22:45hrs, Israeli occupying forces positioned along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at al-Shouka neighborhood in the southeast of the town. A Palestinian woman, Noura Eshteiwi al-Bahaisa, 35, was wounded by a live bullet in the left leg, while she was inside her house, approximately 500m away from the border.
Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international and humanitarian law which prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who have carried out attacks against Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces.
On Sunday morning, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces, covered by intense shelling, moved approximately 600m into al-Salam neighborhood adjacent to the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. Israeli soldiers raided seven houses and forced their residents out.
Then, they destroyed two houses owned by Murad and 'Emad Ahmed 'Abdul 'Aal. Six neighboring houses were also damaged. PCHR's field officer in Rafah reported that the two brothers had bought the houses in May 2001 from their relative, Yasser 'Atwa 'Abdul 'Aal, whose brother Mohammed was assassinated by Israeli forces on 2 April 2001.
Owners of the houses lost amounts of money and some jewelry.
