22 jan 2003
On Wednesday evening, medical sources at Rafidya Hospital in Nablus declared that Ahmed Anwar Saqer, 15, from 'Askar refugee camp, east of the city, succumbed to a wound he sustained on 11 January 2003. Saqer was wounded by a heavy caliber bullet that entered the pelvis and settled in the abdomen, when Israeli soldiers fired at a number of Palestinian children who demonstrated near the refugee camp.
On Wednesday, Israeli forces denied access of a medical delegation of Palestine Red Crescent Society and Sawa Center for Development to al-Mawasi area in the west of Khan Yunis to organize a free medical treatment day in an attempt to ease the humanitarian crisis of Palestinian civilians living in the area.
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.
At approximately 01:00 on Wednesday, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with tanks, armored personnel carriers and military bulldozers, moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They surrounded the house of Fathi Mohammed Mahmoud al-Najjar, 38, who was arrested by these forces 3 months ago for his resistance activities.
They forced the 12 residents of the 250-square-meter house out and demolished it. They also demolished the fence of a house owned by Eyad 'Aayed al-Najjar and the fence of the cemetery of the village.
On Wednesday evening, medical sources at Rafidya Hospital in Nablus declared that Ahmed Anwar Saqer, 15, from 'Askar refugee camp, east of the city, succumbed to a wound he sustained on 11 January 2003. Saqer was wounded by a heavy caliber bullet that entered the pelvis and settled in the abdomen, when Israeli soldiers fired at a number of Palestinian children who demonstrated near the refugee camp.
On Wednesday, Israeli forces denied access of a medical delegation of Palestine Red Crescent Society and Sawa Center for Development to al-Mawasi area in the west of Khan Yunis to organize a free medical treatment day in an attempt to ease the humanitarian crisis of Palestinian civilians living in the area.
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.
At approximately 01:00 on Wednesday, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with tanks, armored personnel carriers and military bulldozers, moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They surrounded the house of Fathi Mohammed Mahmoud al-Najjar, 38, who was arrested by these forces 3 months ago for his resistance activities.
They forced the 12 residents of the 250-square-meter house out and demolished it. They also demolished the fence of a house owned by Eyad 'Aayed al-Najjar and the fence of the cemetery of the village.
21 jan 2003
At approximately 02:30, Israeli occupying forces, accompanied by officers of the Israeli General Security Service and undercover units, moved into al-Jinan neighborhood in the west of al-Bireh. They surrounded an apartment building to arrest Falah Taher Nada, 45, who live in a flat on the second floor. They raided and searched the flat. They held the 8 residents of the flat in one room.
Then, officers of the Israeli General Security Service arrested Nada's wife, Mudallala Mohammed Bajes Nada, 42. Israeli forces also raided a neighboring flat and arrested Isma'il Mohammed Abu Khadija, 47, and confiscated two mobile phones. After having arrested him, Israeli forces closed the doors of the flat, while its 7 residents were inside. Neighbors broke the doors at approximately 04:30.
At approximately 15:30, medical sources at Dr. Khalil Suleiman in Jenin declared that Mahmoud 'Aamer Mohammed Turkman, 20, from Jenin refugee camp, succumbed to a wound he sustained in March 2002.
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 14:00 on 4 March 2002, Dr. Khalil Mahmoud Suleiman, age 58, head of Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Ambulance Station in Jenin was killed when the ambulance he was riding in while evacuating an injured young girl in the Jenin refugee camp was directly hit by Israeli shells and gunfire.
Four Palestinian civilians were wounded, including Turkman who was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the back. He was transferred to hospitals in Jordan and Iraq. One week ago, he was returned to his home in the West Bank completely paralyzed. At approximately 12:00 on Tuesday, his health condition deteriorated. He was moved to hospital, but all efforts made to save his life failed.
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.
At approximately 01:00 on Tuesday, Israeli occupying forces moved into Dura village, west of Hebron. They surrounded the house of 'Eissa Salem Isma'il al-Darabi', 28, whose has been detained by Israeli forces for 14 months. They forced the 5 residents of the 150-square-meter house out and destroyed it.
Recently, al-Darabai' was sentenced to life imprisonment after having been convicted of being a member of Fatah movement, killing an Israeli soldier of an undercover unit and attacking the convoy of the Israeli former chief of staff Shaul Mofaz. Al-Darabai' is an officer of the Palestinian Presidential Guard.
At approximately 02:30, Israeli occupying forces, accompanied by officers of the Israeli General Security Service and undercover units, moved into al-Jinan neighborhood in the west of al-Bireh. They surrounded an apartment building to arrest Falah Taher Nada, 45, who live in a flat on the second floor. They raided and searched the flat. They held the 8 residents of the flat in one room.
Then, officers of the Israeli General Security Service arrested Nada's wife, Mudallala Mohammed Bajes Nada, 42. Israeli forces also raided a neighboring flat and arrested Isma'il Mohammed Abu Khadija, 47, and confiscated two mobile phones. After having arrested him, Israeli forces closed the doors of the flat, while its 7 residents were inside. Neighbors broke the doors at approximately 04:30.
At approximately 15:30, medical sources at Dr. Khalil Suleiman in Jenin declared that Mahmoud 'Aamer Mohammed Turkman, 20, from Jenin refugee camp, succumbed to a wound he sustained in March 2002.
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 14:00 on 4 March 2002, Dr. Khalil Mahmoud Suleiman, age 58, head of Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Ambulance Station in Jenin was killed when the ambulance he was riding in while evacuating an injured young girl in the Jenin refugee camp was directly hit by Israeli shells and gunfire.
Four Palestinian civilians were wounded, including Turkman who was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the back. He was transferred to hospitals in Jordan and Iraq. One week ago, he was returned to his home in the West Bank completely paralyzed. At approximately 12:00 on Tuesday, his health condition deteriorated. He was moved to hospital, but all efforts made to save his life failed.
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.
At approximately 01:00 on Tuesday, Israeli occupying forces moved into Dura village, west of Hebron. They surrounded the house of 'Eissa Salem Isma'il al-Darabi', 28, whose has been detained by Israeli forces for 14 months. They forced the 5 residents of the 150-square-meter house out and destroyed it.
Recently, al-Darabai' was sentenced to life imprisonment after having been convicted of being a member of Fatah movement, killing an Israeli soldier of an undercover unit and attacking the convoy of the Israeli former chief of staff Shaul Mofaz. Al-Darabai' is an officer of the Palestinian Presidential Guard.
20 jan 2003
At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 600m into the east of al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. This Israeli incursion continued until approximately 18:00, during which Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian civilians and razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land.
At approximately 14:15, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 450m into the north of Beit Lahia. An Israeli military bulldozer demolished a 130-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8 people lived, and destroyed a well both owned by Mohammed Fu'ad Mustafa Zindah.
PCHR's fieldworker in the northern Gaza Strip reported that the family had already left the house because it had been regularly fired at by Israeli forces.
At approximately 23:00, Israeli tanks in the vicinity of Israeli settlements in the west of Rafah opened fire at Palestinian houses in Canada neighborhood.
A Palestinian woman, Zahira Samir Abu al-'Einain, 35, was wounded by a live bullet in the right arm. PCHR's fieldworker in Rafah reported that the woman was wounded while she was inside her house, approximately 350m away from the Israeli tanks.
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.
At approximately 09:00 on Monday, 20 January 2003, Israeli occupying forces moved into Wadi al-Karem neighborhood in the west of Hebron. They surrounded the house of Mohammed Yusri al-Shweiki, 52. They forced the 14 residents of the 360-square-meter, 2-story house out and destroyed it.
Al-Shweiki's son, Tayseer, 22, has been detained by Israeli forces for 1 year for his resistance activities, while he himself and his other son, 'Omran, 19, has been detained for more than 2 months on the ground of the first son’s detention.
At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 600m into the east of al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. This Israeli incursion continued until approximately 18:00, during which Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian civilians and razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land.
At approximately 14:15, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 450m into the north of Beit Lahia. An Israeli military bulldozer demolished a 130-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8 people lived, and destroyed a well both owned by Mohammed Fu'ad Mustafa Zindah.
PCHR's fieldworker in the northern Gaza Strip reported that the family had already left the house because it had been regularly fired at by Israeli forces.
At approximately 23:00, Israeli tanks in the vicinity of Israeli settlements in the west of Rafah opened fire at Palestinian houses in Canada neighborhood.
A Palestinian woman, Zahira Samir Abu al-'Einain, 35, was wounded by a live bullet in the right arm. PCHR's fieldworker in Rafah reported that the woman was wounded while she was inside her house, approximately 350m away from the Israeli tanks.
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.
At approximately 09:00 on Monday, 20 January 2003, Israeli occupying forces moved into Wadi al-Karem neighborhood in the west of Hebron. They surrounded the house of Mohammed Yusri al-Shweiki, 52. They forced the 14 residents of the 360-square-meter, 2-story house out and destroyed it.
Al-Shweiki's son, Tayseer, 22, has been detained by Israeli forces for 1 year for his resistance activities, while he himself and his other son, 'Omran, 19, has been detained for more than 2 months on the ground of the first son’s detention.
19 jan 2003
At approximately 08:30, an Israeli tank moved approximately 700m into Palestinian agricultural land in the north of Beit Lahia. Israeli soldiers on the tank arrested Ahmed Mohammed al-Da'our, 25, from Beit Lahia, while he was farming his land. The tank took him to Erez area in the north of the Gaza Strip, where he was interrogated by Israeli soldiers about the reason of his presence in the area. He was released at approximately 17:00.
At approximately 09:00, 4 tanks and a military bulldozer of Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Sayafa area in the north of Beit Lahia. Israeli soldiers raided a 400-square-meter, iron-roofed house, in which 7 people live, owned by Younis 'Awadhallah Abu Khousa. They ordered the owner to evacuate the house because it was to be demolished, and withdrew from the area. At approximately 12:30, Israeli forces came to the area again and demolished the house.
At approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into streets and neighborhoods of Nablus to impose a curfew. They opened fire indiscriminately to force Palestinian civilians to stay at homes. Seven Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. Sirri 'Aayed 'Ouda, 16, wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet in the head;
2. Muhannad Ibrahim Daoud, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right hand;
3. Mohammed Mahanna Sadiq, 26, wounded by a live bullet in the head;
4. Mohammed Hisham Mohammed, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the leg;
5. Asa'ad Naji al-Bahash, 19, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot;
6. 'Essam 'Ayad 'Abdullah, 26, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right hand; and
7. Zakaria 'Abdullah Ahmed Muhsen, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the abdomen.
Also in the morning, Israeli occupying forces imposed a curfew on Hebron. They opened fire indiscriminately to force Palestinian civilians to stay at homes. Seven Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. Lu'ai 'Abdul Salam Abu Haikal, 26, a cameraman of Reuters news agency, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg while filming the incidents;
2. Hanadai Mohammed al-Natsha, 20, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left thigh;
3. Mohammed 'Abdul Qader 'Amru, 23, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg;
4. Ahmed 'Ali al-Hallaq, 48, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right thigh;
5. Yaqin Shahin al-Ja'bari, 65, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the chest;
6. Hatem 'Adnan Salah, 32, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head; and
7. Yusra Fazzaa' Hassan al-Ja'bari, 27, was wounded in the foot; she was arrested by Israeli forces, who claimed that she attempted to stab a soldier.
At approximately 16:30, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Khan Yunis refugee camp.
A Palestinian civilian, Kamal Mustafa Abu Sa'id, 17, was wounded by a live bullet in the left hand. PCHR's fieldworker in Khan Yunis reported that Abu Sa'id was wounded while he was near his house, approximately 400m away from the source of fire.
At approximately 19:30, medical sources at al-Maqassed Hospital in Jerusalem declared that 'Ammar Mohammed Ahmed 'Oleyan, 26, from Khan Yunis, succumbed to a wound he sustained while resisting Israeli occupying forces that invaded the town on 11 January 2003.
'Oleyan, a member of the Palestinian National Security Force, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the neck. He was evacuated to Shifa' Hospital in Gaza city and from there, he was transferred to al-Maqassed Hospital in Jerusalem, but all efforts made to save his life failed.
It is worth mentioning that the Israeli invasion of Khan Yunis on 11 January 2003 had left dead a number of Palestinians, while 14 Palestinians, including 'Oleyan, were wounded and dozens of Palestinian civilians facilities and houses were destroyed.
Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property in Hebron
On Sunday, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian houses in the same neighborhood. They destroyed windows and doors of at least 25 houses and damaged at least 10 civilian cars using stones and sharp tools
At approximately 08:30, an Israeli tank moved approximately 700m into Palestinian agricultural land in the north of Beit Lahia. Israeli soldiers on the tank arrested Ahmed Mohammed al-Da'our, 25, from Beit Lahia, while he was farming his land. The tank took him to Erez area in the north of the Gaza Strip, where he was interrogated by Israeli soldiers about the reason of his presence in the area. He was released at approximately 17:00.
At approximately 09:00, 4 tanks and a military bulldozer of Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Sayafa area in the north of Beit Lahia. Israeli soldiers raided a 400-square-meter, iron-roofed house, in which 7 people live, owned by Younis 'Awadhallah Abu Khousa. They ordered the owner to evacuate the house because it was to be demolished, and withdrew from the area. At approximately 12:30, Israeli forces came to the area again and demolished the house.
At approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into streets and neighborhoods of Nablus to impose a curfew. They opened fire indiscriminately to force Palestinian civilians to stay at homes. Seven Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. Sirri 'Aayed 'Ouda, 16, wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet in the head;
2. Muhannad Ibrahim Daoud, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right hand;
3. Mohammed Mahanna Sadiq, 26, wounded by a live bullet in the head;
4. Mohammed Hisham Mohammed, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the leg;
5. Asa'ad Naji al-Bahash, 19, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot;
6. 'Essam 'Ayad 'Abdullah, 26, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right hand; and
7. Zakaria 'Abdullah Ahmed Muhsen, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the abdomen.
Also in the morning, Israeli occupying forces imposed a curfew on Hebron. They opened fire indiscriminately to force Palestinian civilians to stay at homes. Seven Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. Lu'ai 'Abdul Salam Abu Haikal, 26, a cameraman of Reuters news agency, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg while filming the incidents;
2. Hanadai Mohammed al-Natsha, 20, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left thigh;
3. Mohammed 'Abdul Qader 'Amru, 23, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg;
4. Ahmed 'Ali al-Hallaq, 48, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right thigh;
5. Yaqin Shahin al-Ja'bari, 65, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the chest;
6. Hatem 'Adnan Salah, 32, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head; and
7. Yusra Fazzaa' Hassan al-Ja'bari, 27, was wounded in the foot; she was arrested by Israeli forces, who claimed that she attempted to stab a soldier.
At approximately 16:30, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Khan Yunis refugee camp.
A Palestinian civilian, Kamal Mustafa Abu Sa'id, 17, was wounded by a live bullet in the left hand. PCHR's fieldworker in Khan Yunis reported that Abu Sa'id was wounded while he was near his house, approximately 400m away from the source of fire.
At approximately 19:30, medical sources at al-Maqassed Hospital in Jerusalem declared that 'Ammar Mohammed Ahmed 'Oleyan, 26, from Khan Yunis, succumbed to a wound he sustained while resisting Israeli occupying forces that invaded the town on 11 January 2003.
'Oleyan, a member of the Palestinian National Security Force, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the neck. He was evacuated to Shifa' Hospital in Gaza city and from there, he was transferred to al-Maqassed Hospital in Jerusalem, but all efforts made to save his life failed.
It is worth mentioning that the Israeli invasion of Khan Yunis on 11 January 2003 had left dead a number of Palestinians, while 14 Palestinians, including 'Oleyan, were wounded and dozens of Palestinian civilians facilities and houses were destroyed.
Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property in Hebron
On Sunday, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian houses in the same neighborhood. They destroyed windows and doors of at least 25 houses and damaged at least 10 civilian cars using stones and sharp tools
18 jan 2003
At approximately 10:30, Israeli occupying forces at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Block L in Rafah refugee camp. Two Palestinian civilians were wounded by the Israeli gunfire that continued until 12:00:
1. Fadi Jihad Suleiman, 15, wounded by shrapnel in the head; and
2. Hassan Saleh Abu Jazar, 19, wounded by a live bullet in the left arm.
PCHR's fieldworker in Rafah reported that the two were wounded while they were near their houses.
At approximately 11:45, an infantry unit and a tank of Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 600m into 'Aabdin neighborhood in al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. They raided uninhabited house owned by 'Abdul Karim 'Aabdin.
They also ordered 'Abed Salim 'Aabdin to tell residents of the area not to leave their houses after 18:00 everyday and that their houses would be demolished if Israeli soldiers were fired at by Palestinian gunmen in the area.
At approximately 23:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 250m into Palestinian areas located northwest of "Kfar Darom" settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah. Immediately, Israeli military bulldozers razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land and demolished a number of civilian facilities.
PCHR's fieldworker in the central Gaza Strip reported that the Israeli forces piled up rubble from there demolitions on Abu 'Oraif Street near the affected area, restricting the movement of people.
In an apparent willful killing, on Saturday afternoon, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian civilian in Rafah, while he was on the roof of his house.
At approximately 10:30, Israeli occupying forces at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Block L in Rafah refugee camp. Two Palestinian civilians were wounded by the Israeli gunfire that continued until 12:00:
1. Fadi Jihad Suleiman, 15, wounded by shrapnel in the head; and
2. Hassan Saleh Abu Jazar, 19, wounded by a live bullet in the left arm.
PCHR's fieldworker in Rafah reported that the two were wounded while they were near their houses.
At approximately 11:45, an infantry unit and a tank of Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 600m into 'Aabdin neighborhood in al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. They raided uninhabited house owned by 'Abdul Karim 'Aabdin.
They also ordered 'Abed Salim 'Aabdin to tell residents of the area not to leave their houses after 18:00 everyday and that their houses would be demolished if Israeli soldiers were fired at by Palestinian gunmen in the area.
At approximately 23:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 250m into Palestinian areas located northwest of "Kfar Darom" settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah. Immediately, Israeli military bulldozers razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land and demolished a number of civilian facilities.
PCHR's fieldworker in the central Gaza Strip reported that the Israeli forces piled up rubble from there demolitions on Abu 'Oraif Street near the affected area, restricting the movement of people.
In an apparent willful killing, on Saturday afternoon, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian civilian in Rafah, while he was on the roof of his house.
According to PCHR's investigation and eyewitnesses' testimonies, at approximately 14:15 on the aforementioned day, 'Abdul Fattah 'Orabi Hassan Mansour, 35, from Block O in Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip, got onto the roof of his house to repair its water tanks, which were damaged by repeated gunfire by Israeli occupying forces at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah.
As soon as Israeli soldiers on a military observation tower at the iron wall recently established along the border opposite to Rafah refugee camp saw him, they fired a live bullet at him from a distance of approximately 150m, wounding him in the back.
His children called for help. Immediately, his neighbors evacuated him to hospital, but all efforts made to save his life failed. According to medical sources, Mansour was shot by a live bullet that entered the back and exited the chest causing an acute hemorrhage. PCHR's fieldworker in Rafah reported that Israeli forces established 3 military observation points along the newly established iron wall. These points are circular, iron objects that contain one soldier.
As soon as Israeli soldiers on a military observation tower at the iron wall recently established along the border opposite to Rafah refugee camp saw him, they fired a live bullet at him from a distance of approximately 150m, wounding him in the back.
His children called for help. Immediately, his neighbors evacuated him to hospital, but all efforts made to save his life failed. According to medical sources, Mansour was shot by a live bullet that entered the back and exited the chest causing an acute hemorrhage. PCHR's fieldworker in Rafah reported that Israeli forces established 3 military observation points along the newly established iron wall. These points are circular, iron objects that contain one soldier.
17 jan 2003
At approximately 12:00, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 800m into al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. Israeli soldiers were deployed in branch roads and agricultural areas. They wrote numbers on a number of houses and a park of the municipality. Then, an Israeli military bulldozer dug a trench cutting the road linking al-Qarara village and al-Ma'arri elementary school, approximately 600m south of an Israeli military location near the village. The Israeli forces also demolished a number of Palestinian civilian facilities and razed areas of agricultural land.
During this incursion, Israeli forces handcuffed 22-year-old Ahmed 'Abdul Latif al-Sumairi and forces him to get on a military jeep after they had checked his identity card. They released him later.
PCHR's fieldworker in the central Gaza Strip reported that, upon their withdrawal, the Israeli forces left a statement signed by the Israeli military command in the Gaza Strip that warned off the residents of the area from cooperating with Palestinian "terrorists", otherwise they would lose any hope of life and a secure living.
At approximately 15:00, 10 Israeli soldiers moved on foot 100m into Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah. They erected a military roadblock at the northern entrance of the village. Israeli soldiers checked identity cards of passing Palestinian villagers and arrested 6 of them. The detainees were taken to the greenhouses of "Kfar Darom" settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah. They were released at 22:00.
Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property in Hebron
An armed attack carried out by armed Palestinians on Friday evening, against "Kharsina" settlement, east of Hebron, left dead an Israeli soldier and injured 3 settlers. In response, the settlers of "Kiryat Arba'" and "Kharsina" settlements, east of Hebron, and settlements inside the city, attacked Palestinian civilians and their property, especially in the old town, the center of the town and Wadi al-Baqa'a and al-Bweira neighborhoods. These attacks took place before the eyes of Israeli forces and police.
Six Palestinian civilians were wounded, including two who were in serious condition, windows and doors of 25 houses were destroyed, more than 10 cars were destroyed or damaged and areas of agricultural land and water sources were damaged.
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 22:30 on Friday, armed Israeli settlers of the so-called "Settlement Guards" attacked the house and families of Mohammed Badawi Jaber, 39, and his brother Samih, 35, in Wadi al-Baqa'a neighborhood in the east of Hebron.
The families were extremely frightened and 3 of them were injured, one of them was in serious condition.
Also in the evening, Israeli settlers of "Kharsina" settlement launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property in al-Bweira neighborhood in the east of Hebron.
Zuhdi Wahbi Sultan, 70, stated that at approximately 21:00 on Friday, he heard sounds of the falling of the water tanks and the satellite reception dish falling. Then, the door of the house was violently knocked. He opened it, and immediately 3 settlers broke into the house and violently beat him, especially on the head.
He lost conscious for 3 hours. Throughout the following 2 days, the house was subjected to attacks, so Sultan and his wife were forced to hide in the bathroom. Israeli settlers also cut their roses planted on a 500-square-meter area of agricultural land.
At approximately 12:00, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 800m into al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. Israeli soldiers were deployed in branch roads and agricultural areas. They wrote numbers on a number of houses and a park of the municipality. Then, an Israeli military bulldozer dug a trench cutting the road linking al-Qarara village and al-Ma'arri elementary school, approximately 600m south of an Israeli military location near the village. The Israeli forces also demolished a number of Palestinian civilian facilities and razed areas of agricultural land.
During this incursion, Israeli forces handcuffed 22-year-old Ahmed 'Abdul Latif al-Sumairi and forces him to get on a military jeep after they had checked his identity card. They released him later.
PCHR's fieldworker in the central Gaza Strip reported that, upon their withdrawal, the Israeli forces left a statement signed by the Israeli military command in the Gaza Strip that warned off the residents of the area from cooperating with Palestinian "terrorists", otherwise they would lose any hope of life and a secure living.
At approximately 15:00, 10 Israeli soldiers moved on foot 100m into Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah. They erected a military roadblock at the northern entrance of the village. Israeli soldiers checked identity cards of passing Palestinian villagers and arrested 6 of them. The detainees were taken to the greenhouses of "Kfar Darom" settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah. They were released at 22:00.
Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property in Hebron
An armed attack carried out by armed Palestinians on Friday evening, against "Kharsina" settlement, east of Hebron, left dead an Israeli soldier and injured 3 settlers. In response, the settlers of "Kiryat Arba'" and "Kharsina" settlements, east of Hebron, and settlements inside the city, attacked Palestinian civilians and their property, especially in the old town, the center of the town and Wadi al-Baqa'a and al-Bweira neighborhoods. These attacks took place before the eyes of Israeli forces and police.
Six Palestinian civilians were wounded, including two who were in serious condition, windows and doors of 25 houses were destroyed, more than 10 cars were destroyed or damaged and areas of agricultural land and water sources were damaged.
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 22:30 on Friday, armed Israeli settlers of the so-called "Settlement Guards" attacked the house and families of Mohammed Badawi Jaber, 39, and his brother Samih, 35, in Wadi al-Baqa'a neighborhood in the east of Hebron.
The families were extremely frightened and 3 of them were injured, one of them was in serious condition.
Also in the evening, Israeli settlers of "Kharsina" settlement launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property in al-Bweira neighborhood in the east of Hebron.
Zuhdi Wahbi Sultan, 70, stated that at approximately 21:00 on Friday, he heard sounds of the falling of the water tanks and the satellite reception dish falling. Then, the door of the house was violently knocked. He opened it, and immediately 3 settlers broke into the house and violently beat him, especially on the head.
He lost conscious for 3 hours. Throughout the following 2 days, the house was subjected to attacks, so Sultan and his wife were forced to hide in the bathroom. Israeli settlers also cut their roses planted on a 500-square-meter area of agricultural land.
16 jan 2003
At approximately 01:00, more than 15 Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 200m into Khaled Ben al-Walid Street near Salah al-Din Gate on the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. During this incursion that continued until 06:00, Israeli occupying forces totally demolished 4 Palestinian houses.
PCHR's fieldworker in Rafah reported that a number of Israeli soldiers with blackened faces and accompanied by dogs, raided 9 other houses. They broke down doors, made holes in walls, searched them and held residents of each house in one room. These houses were damaged. The electricity and telephone supplies of the area were also damaged.
Upon their withdrawal from the area, Israeli forces left a statement written in Arabic and signed by the Israeli military command that tried to justify Israeli military operations and warned the Palestinian population of providing assistance to Palestinian "terrorists."
At approximately 07:00, 2 tanks and a military bulldozer of Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 600m into al-Birka area in the southwest of Deir al-Balah. They razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land.
At approximately 09:30, a tank and a bulldozer of Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 400m north of greenhouses of "Kfar Darom" settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah. They destroyed a branch road leading to Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah, by digging a hole in the road and then erecting a sand barrier.
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.
At approximately 03:25 on Thursday, Israeli occupying forces moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem, which is under Palestinian security control. They surrounded the house of Khalil Taqatqa. They forced the 12 residents of the 120-square-meter house out and destroyed it. Taqatqa is father of 'Andalib Taqatqa who carried out a bombing inside a supermarket in West Jerusalem in April 2002.
At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin, which is under full Palestinian control. They surrounded the house of Mohammed Saleh Mousa Ekmayel. They forced out the 16 residents of the 120-square-meter house and an adjacent 120-square-meter house, in which 10 people lived, owned by Najeh Ekmayel. Then, they destroyed the two houses.
Ekmayel is the father of Saleh Ekmayel, 23, who was killed in an armed clash with Israeli occupying forces in the northern Jordan Valley in March 2002.
At approximately 01:00, more than 15 Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 200m into Khaled Ben al-Walid Street near Salah al-Din Gate on the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. During this incursion that continued until 06:00, Israeli occupying forces totally demolished 4 Palestinian houses.
PCHR's fieldworker in Rafah reported that a number of Israeli soldiers with blackened faces and accompanied by dogs, raided 9 other houses. They broke down doors, made holes in walls, searched them and held residents of each house in one room. These houses were damaged. The electricity and telephone supplies of the area were also damaged.
Upon their withdrawal from the area, Israeli forces left a statement written in Arabic and signed by the Israeli military command that tried to justify Israeli military operations and warned the Palestinian population of providing assistance to Palestinian "terrorists."
At approximately 07:00, 2 tanks and a military bulldozer of Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 600m into al-Birka area in the southwest of Deir al-Balah. They razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land.
At approximately 09:30, a tank and a bulldozer of Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 400m north of greenhouses of "Kfar Darom" settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah. They destroyed a branch road leading to Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah, by digging a hole in the road and then erecting a sand barrier.
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.
At approximately 03:25 on Thursday, Israeli occupying forces moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem, which is under Palestinian security control. They surrounded the house of Khalil Taqatqa. They forced the 12 residents of the 120-square-meter house out and destroyed it. Taqatqa is father of 'Andalib Taqatqa who carried out a bombing inside a supermarket in West Jerusalem in April 2002.
At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin, which is under full Palestinian control. They surrounded the house of Mohammed Saleh Mousa Ekmayel. They forced out the 16 residents of the 120-square-meter house and an adjacent 120-square-meter house, in which 10 people lived, owned by Najeh Ekmayel. Then, they destroyed the two houses.
Ekmayel is the father of Saleh Ekmayel, 23, who was killed in an armed clash with Israeli occupying forces in the northern Jordan Valley in March 2002.
15 jan 2003
At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces invaded Tulkarm and its two refugee camps and seized total control over them. In the morning, a number of Palestinian children gathered at the entrance of Tulkarm refugee camp and threw stones at Israeli armored military vehicles.
The Israeli soldiers in the vehicles fired at the children, wounding Mohye al-Din Mahmoud Hamza, 17, with a live bullet in the abdomen. He was evacuated to hospital, but all efforts made to save his life failed. According to eyewitnesses, Hamza was shot from a distance of approximately 150m.
At approximately 04:40, an Israeli undercover unit used three taxis and a truck, that had a Palestinian registration number, and reinforced with 20 military jeeps, to infiltrate Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin, to arrest Kamal Najib Abu Wa'er, 26, and demolish his house (see the section on collective punishment below).
At approximately 06:00, Israeli soldiers saw Rebhi Husni Zakarna, 45, mentally handicapped, near an old mosque in the village. They ordered him to stop, but he attempted to escape. The soldiers opened fire and wounded him. They surrounded him, did not offer him any help and did not allow anyone to evacuate him to hospital. He bled to death.
At approximately 08:30, as Israeli forces re-imposed a curfew on Tulkarm, a number of Palestinian pupils on their way home gathered in an alley leading to Jamal 'Abdul Nasser Street in the center of the town and threw stones at Israeli soldiers in tanks and armored military vehicles. Immediately, an Israeli military jeep moved towards the pupils and opened fire at them.
A student, Hazzaa' Qassam Fawaz Shadid, 16, from 'Allar village in Tulkarm, was killed by a live bullet in the back that settled in the heart.
According to the headmaster of the al-Fadhiliya School and according to eyewitnesses, Shadid came to the school in the morning to take a formal notice of his transfer to 'Allar School. When he went to the taxi compound in the center of the town to travel to his village, he passed by the area where students gathered and threw stones at Israeli forces. Then, an Israeli military jeep arrived in the area and opened fire, killing him. According to eyewitnesses, the pupils did not pose any serious threat to the lives of Israeli soldiers, and Shadid did not throw stones.
At approximately 10:00, six heavy military vehicles and two military bulldozers of the Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 300m into Palestinians areas east of Beit Hanoun. Soon, the bulldozers demolished three Palestinian houses.
At approximately 23:30, Israeli occupying forces in a military location known as "al-Nouria," west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at the Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis refugee camp.
A Palestinian civilian, Ussama Khalil 'Abdul Rahman 'Arram, 30, was wounded by a live bullet in the left foot.
Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international law and 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 the Israeli military.
At approximately 05:30 on Wednesday, Israeli occupying forces demolished the 100-square-meter house of the family of Wissam Sa'id Mousa al-'Abbasi, 25, from Silwan village, who has been detained by the forces. The Israeli High Court had approved a decision of the head of the Israeli central military command to demolish these houses, but the nature of the three houses did not allow demolition, so they closed them with concrete instead.
Two months ago, the Israeli central court in occupied East Jerusalem sentenced the four Palestinian detainees, who were called "the Silwan Cell," to long periods in prison:
· Wa'el Qassem, sentenced to 35 life imprisonments and 50 years;
· Wissam al-'Abbasi, sentenced to 26 life imprisonments and 40 years;
· Mohammed 'Ouda, sentenced to 9 life imprisonments and 40 years; and
· 'Alaa' al-'Abbasi, sentenced to 60 years in prison.
At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces invaded Tulkarm and its two refugee camps and seized total control over them. In the morning, a number of Palestinian children gathered at the entrance of Tulkarm refugee camp and threw stones at Israeli armored military vehicles.
The Israeli soldiers in the vehicles fired at the children, wounding Mohye al-Din Mahmoud Hamza, 17, with a live bullet in the abdomen. He was evacuated to hospital, but all efforts made to save his life failed. According to eyewitnesses, Hamza was shot from a distance of approximately 150m.
At approximately 04:40, an Israeli undercover unit used three taxis and a truck, that had a Palestinian registration number, and reinforced with 20 military jeeps, to infiltrate Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin, to arrest Kamal Najib Abu Wa'er, 26, and demolish his house (see the section on collective punishment below).
At approximately 06:00, Israeli soldiers saw Rebhi Husni Zakarna, 45, mentally handicapped, near an old mosque in the village. They ordered him to stop, but he attempted to escape. The soldiers opened fire and wounded him. They surrounded him, did not offer him any help and did not allow anyone to evacuate him to hospital. He bled to death.
At approximately 08:30, as Israeli forces re-imposed a curfew on Tulkarm, a number of Palestinian pupils on their way home gathered in an alley leading to Jamal 'Abdul Nasser Street in the center of the town and threw stones at Israeli soldiers in tanks and armored military vehicles. Immediately, an Israeli military jeep moved towards the pupils and opened fire at them.
A student, Hazzaa' Qassam Fawaz Shadid, 16, from 'Allar village in Tulkarm, was killed by a live bullet in the back that settled in the heart.
According to the headmaster of the al-Fadhiliya School and according to eyewitnesses, Shadid came to the school in the morning to take a formal notice of his transfer to 'Allar School. When he went to the taxi compound in the center of the town to travel to his village, he passed by the area where students gathered and threw stones at Israeli forces. Then, an Israeli military jeep arrived in the area and opened fire, killing him. According to eyewitnesses, the pupils did not pose any serious threat to the lives of Israeli soldiers, and Shadid did not throw stones.
At approximately 10:00, six heavy military vehicles and two military bulldozers of the Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 300m into Palestinians areas east of Beit Hanoun. Soon, the bulldozers demolished three Palestinian houses.
At approximately 23:30, Israeli occupying forces in a military location known as "al-Nouria," west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at the Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis refugee camp.
A Palestinian civilian, Ussama Khalil 'Abdul Rahman 'Arram, 30, was wounded by a live bullet in the left foot.
Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international law and 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 the Israeli military.
At approximately 05:30 on Wednesday, Israeli occupying forces demolished the 100-square-meter house of the family of Wissam Sa'id Mousa al-'Abbasi, 25, from Silwan village, who has been detained by the forces. The Israeli High Court had approved a decision of the head of the Israeli central military command to demolish these houses, but the nature of the three houses did not allow demolition, so they closed them with concrete instead.
Two months ago, the Israeli central court in occupied East Jerusalem sentenced the four Palestinian detainees, who were called "the Silwan Cell," to long periods in prison:
· Wa'el Qassem, sentenced to 35 life imprisonments and 50 years;
· Wissam al-'Abbasi, sentenced to 26 life imprisonments and 40 years;
· Mohammed 'Ouda, sentenced to 9 life imprisonments and 40 years; and
· 'Alaa' al-'Abbasi, sentenced to 60 years in prison.
14 jan 2003
At approximately 01:30, 12 Israeli heavy military vehicles, accompanied by two military bulldozers, moved approximately 1500m along Salah al-Din Street near the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. Soon, the bulldozers dug trenches into all branch roads leading to the town so it is now isolated from its surroundings. During the incursion which continued until 03:45, the Israeli forces forced the family of Mahmoud Mohammed Khalil al-Za'anin – 15 people – out of their house and held them for an hour.
The soldiers warned them that their house would be destroyed if they filled up the trenches.
At approximately 22:30, the Israeli occupying forces at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in the town.
A Palestinian civilian, Khaled Jamal al-Dania, 24, was wounded by shrapnel in the left eye. PCHR's field worker in Rafah reports that al-Dania was wounded while he was walking approximately 300m away from the border.
At approximately 13:00, after the funeral procession of Eyad Abu Sha'ar, a number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at the Israeli occupying forces in the vicinity of "Kfar Darom" settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah. Israeli soldiers fired at the children wounding two:
1. Ahmed Mahmoud Mesbah, 13, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh; and
2. Mohammed Ahmed Suleiman, 13, wounded by a live bullet in the right shoulder
Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international law and 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 the Israeli military.
At approximately 02:30 on Tuesday, Israeli occupying forces moved into the western area of Tulkarm. They surrounded a 100-square-meter, two-story building owned by Mohammed al-Mur, the first floor of which was rented by Mahmoud 'Abdul Rahim Mohammed Nassar, while the second floor was rented by the Palestinian Ministry of Culture and Information. Israeli forces forced Nassar's family out and destroyed the building. They also arrested Nassar's son, Eyad, 23.
At approximately 22:00 on Tuesday, Israeli occupying forces surrounded the house of the family of Wa'el Mahmoud Qassem, 31, from Silwan village in occupied East Jerusalem. Wa'el Mahmoud Qassem has been detained by these forces. They forced the six residents of the 100-square-meter house out and closed it with concrete.
Then, they surrounded the house of the family of Mohammed Ishaq Shehada 'Ouda, 29, who also has been detained. They forced the four residents out of the house and closed it with concrete.
Approximately an hour later, Israeli forces surrounded the house of the family of 'Alaa' Mahmoud Mohammed al-'Abbasi, 30, who has been detained by these forces. They forced the five families living in the building, which count 25 persons, out and closed it with concrete.
At approximately 01:30, 12 Israeli heavy military vehicles, accompanied by two military bulldozers, moved approximately 1500m along Salah al-Din Street near the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. Soon, the bulldozers dug trenches into all branch roads leading to the town so it is now isolated from its surroundings. During the incursion which continued until 03:45, the Israeli forces forced the family of Mahmoud Mohammed Khalil al-Za'anin – 15 people – out of their house and held them for an hour.
The soldiers warned them that their house would be destroyed if they filled up the trenches.
At approximately 22:30, the Israeli occupying forces at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in the town.
A Palestinian civilian, Khaled Jamal al-Dania, 24, was wounded by shrapnel in the left eye. PCHR's field worker in Rafah reports that al-Dania was wounded while he was walking approximately 300m away from the border.
At approximately 13:00, after the funeral procession of Eyad Abu Sha'ar, a number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at the Israeli occupying forces in the vicinity of "Kfar Darom" settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah. Israeli soldiers fired at the children wounding two:
1. Ahmed Mahmoud Mesbah, 13, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh; and
2. Mohammed Ahmed Suleiman, 13, wounded by a live bullet in the right shoulder
Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international law and 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 the Israeli military.
At approximately 02:30 on Tuesday, Israeli occupying forces moved into the western area of Tulkarm. They surrounded a 100-square-meter, two-story building owned by Mohammed al-Mur, the first floor of which was rented by Mahmoud 'Abdul Rahim Mohammed Nassar, while the second floor was rented by the Palestinian Ministry of Culture and Information. Israeli forces forced Nassar's family out and destroyed the building. They also arrested Nassar's son, Eyad, 23.
At approximately 22:00 on Tuesday, Israeli occupying forces surrounded the house of the family of Wa'el Mahmoud Qassem, 31, from Silwan village in occupied East Jerusalem. Wa'el Mahmoud Qassem has been detained by these forces. They forced the six residents of the 100-square-meter house out and closed it with concrete.
Then, they surrounded the house of the family of Mohammed Ishaq Shehada 'Ouda, 29, who also has been detained. They forced the four residents out of the house and closed it with concrete.
Approximately an hour later, Israeli forces surrounded the house of the family of 'Alaa' Mahmoud Mohammed al-'Abbasi, 30, who has been detained by these forces. They forced the five families living in the building, which count 25 persons, out and closed it with concrete.
13 jan 2003
At approximately 00:30, Israeli heavy military vehicles, covered by intense gunfire and supported by helicopters, moved from Beit Hanoun crossing towards the entrance of the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. Two Israeli military bulldozers destroyed the main road leading to the town. The Israeli forces withdrew from the area at approximately 03:30 leaving massive destruction to the infrastructure of the town.
At approximately 10:00, Israeli military bulldozers razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land in the east of Beit Hanoun near the eastern border of the Gaza Strip.
At approximately 14:30, after two Palestinian gunmen had been killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers on a settler road between al-Mentar crossing and al-Shuhada junction, southeast of Gaza City, the Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian areas west of al-Mentar crossing.
A Palestinian child, Muntasser Wadi' Haddad, 15, was wounded by shrapnel from a live bullets in the face and eyes. PCHR's field worker in Gaza City reports that the child was wounded while he was inside his classroom in a preparatory school.
At approximately 17:00, Israeli soldiers moved approximately 100m into Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah, and erected a military checkpoint at its northern entrance. They checked passing Palestinian civilians and arrested four of them.
At approximately 20:00, an Israeli tank and a military bulldozer moved approximately 70m into Palestinian areas in the southeast of Deir al-Balah. The bulldozer demolished a 230-square-meter, two-story, uninhabited house owned by heirs of 'Abdul Majid Mohammed Abu Meghassib. Israeli forces had seized the house since November 2000, using it as an observation point to guard "Kfar Darom" settlement east of Deir al-Balah.
At approximately 09:30, Israeli occupying forces at the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Gaza City, fired at Faraj Hassan Daoud, 70, from al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza, wounding him critically with a live bullet in the right side.
PCHR's field worker in Gaza reports that Daoud was on his agricultural land, approximately 800m west of the border, when he was fired at for no apparent reason.
At approximately 13:30, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, fired at a number of children who threw stones at the locations after the funeral procession of Mohammed Kaware' and 'Abdul Rahman al-Najjar.
A child, Suhaib Isma'il 'Oleyan Barbakh, 7, was wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet in the head.
Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international law and 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 the Israeli military.
At approximately 14:00 on Monday, 13 January 2003, Israeli occupying forces surrounded a 100-square-meter house owned Anwar al-Shayeb in al-Nahdha Street in the center of Ramallah - the house has been deserted for 10 years as its owner lives abroad. Israeli soldiers tried to open its doors but failed, so they used a ladder to get inside. At approximately 04:30, Israeli soldiers ordered Leila Sa'id Abu Ziada to evacuate her neighboring house. They destroyed the first house, damaging Ziada's house. Israeli forces claimed that they found explosives in the house.
At approximately 00:30, Israeli heavy military vehicles, covered by intense gunfire and supported by helicopters, moved from Beit Hanoun crossing towards the entrance of the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. Two Israeli military bulldozers destroyed the main road leading to the town. The Israeli forces withdrew from the area at approximately 03:30 leaving massive destruction to the infrastructure of the town.
At approximately 10:00, Israeli military bulldozers razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land in the east of Beit Hanoun near the eastern border of the Gaza Strip.
At approximately 14:30, after two Palestinian gunmen had been killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers on a settler road between al-Mentar crossing and al-Shuhada junction, southeast of Gaza City, the Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian areas west of al-Mentar crossing.
A Palestinian child, Muntasser Wadi' Haddad, 15, was wounded by shrapnel from a live bullets in the face and eyes. PCHR's field worker in Gaza City reports that the child was wounded while he was inside his classroom in a preparatory school.
At approximately 17:00, Israeli soldiers moved approximately 100m into Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah, and erected a military checkpoint at its northern entrance. They checked passing Palestinian civilians and arrested four of them.
At approximately 20:00, an Israeli tank and a military bulldozer moved approximately 70m into Palestinian areas in the southeast of Deir al-Balah. The bulldozer demolished a 230-square-meter, two-story, uninhabited house owned by heirs of 'Abdul Majid Mohammed Abu Meghassib. Israeli forces had seized the house since November 2000, using it as an observation point to guard "Kfar Darom" settlement east of Deir al-Balah.
At approximately 09:30, Israeli occupying forces at the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Gaza City, fired at Faraj Hassan Daoud, 70, from al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza, wounding him critically with a live bullet in the right side.
PCHR's field worker in Gaza reports that Daoud was on his agricultural land, approximately 800m west of the border, when he was fired at for no apparent reason.
At approximately 13:30, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, fired at a number of children who threw stones at the locations after the funeral procession of Mohammed Kaware' and 'Abdul Rahman al-Najjar.
A child, Suhaib Isma'il 'Oleyan Barbakh, 7, was wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet in the head.
Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international law and 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 the Israeli military.
At approximately 14:00 on Monday, 13 January 2003, Israeli occupying forces surrounded a 100-square-meter house owned Anwar al-Shayeb in al-Nahdha Street in the center of Ramallah - the house has been deserted for 10 years as its owner lives abroad. Israeli soldiers tried to open its doors but failed, so they used a ladder to get inside. At approximately 04:30, Israeli soldiers ordered Leila Sa'id Abu Ziada to evacuate her neighboring house. They destroyed the first house, damaging Ziada's house. Israeli forces claimed that they found explosives in the house.
12 jan 2003
At approximately 01:00, Israeli heavy military vehicles, covered by intense gunfire and supported by helicopters, invaded the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. After they had seized control over the town, Israeli forces destroyed the house of deceased Mohammed Samih al-Masri, who had carried out a bombing against an Israeli gunboat approximately two months ago.
Also during the invasion, the Israeli forces fired at a Palestinian National Security Force facility, killing its officer, 'Ali Zhaher Nassar, 45, with several live bullets embedded throughout his body.
Nassar went out of the site, which is 1500m away from the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, one of the directions the Israeli forces came from, to check what was going on. When the Israeli soldiers saw him, they shot him dead with several live bullets. His body was found when the Israeli forces withdrew from the area. According to one of his colleagues, he was shot while he was 40m northeast of the site.
At approximately 13:00, an Israeli tank and a military bulldozer moved into Um al-Qurrais area in the north of Rafah. The bulldozer razed a 10-donum area of Palestinian agricultural land planted with olives, lemons and palms, and destroyed a 40-meter-long fence, a well and an irrigation network owned by Yousef Ibrahim 'Ali Dhuhair.
At approximately 23:00, about 150 Israeli soldiers, accompanied by a tank and a military bulldozer, moved approximately 200m into Palestinian areas in the southeast of Deir al-Balah. Israeli soldiers raided an uninhabited house owned Salim al-Zure'ei, destroyed its windows and transformed it into a military site.
Then, the bulldozer demolished a 500-square-meter bird farm and uprooted a number of palm trees owned by Suleiman 'Ali 'Arafat Abu Munifi.
At approximately 13:30, after the funeral procession of 'Abdul Latif Wadi who was killed during an Israeli incursion into Khan Yunis in the morning, Israeli forces in military locations in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of the town, fired at a number of Palestinian children who threw stones at the forces. Two children were wounded:
1. Mohammed Salim Jalal al-Farra, 13, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh; and
2. Ramadan Mohammed Harazallah, 16, wounded by three live bullets in the abdomen and the arms.
At approximately 21:00, medical sources at Shifa' Hospital in Gaza declared that Eyad Salem 'Othman Abu Sha'ar, 12, from Wadi al-Salqa village, southeast of Deir al-Balah, succumbed to a wound he sustained last month.
On 24 December 2002, Abu Sha'ar was critically wounded in the neck by a live bullet fired by Israeli soldiers for no apparent reason while he was on his way home. He had been in Shifa' Hospital, until doctors decided to transfer him to an Egyptian hospital, but he succumbed to his wound during the journey to Egypt.
A Failed Assassination Attempt
In another illegal military action showing the disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians, two Israeli combat helicopters launched three missiles at agricultural land southeast of Khan Yunis, in a failed assassination attempt that targeted two activists of the Hamas movement. Two Palestinian civilians, including a handicapped child, who were in the area, were killed and a third civilian was wounded.
According to PCHR's investigation and eyewitnesses' testimonies, at approximately 17:00 on Sunday, 12 January 2003, two Israeli combat helicopters flew over Khan Yunis and chased a civilian car, a white Subaru, that was traveling towards Rafah on the Khan Yunis-Rafah road (Salah al-Din Street). Ra'ed al-'Attar and Mohammed Abu Shammala, from Rafah, allegedly wanted by the Israelis, in addition to the driver, were traveling in the car.
When the car arrived at the crossroads leading to the European Hospital, southeast of Khan Yunis, the passengers noticed the presence of the Israeli helicopters, so they stopped the car and jumped out. They ran south towards agricultural land in the Fukhari area, followed by the helicopters which launched three missiles at the area. The missiles exploded on a tract of land located 30m west of a tin-roofed house, while the three Palestinian residents were inside.
Shrapnel of the missiles hit the three civilians, killing two of them, one was a handicapped child, and wounded the third one. The passengers of the car were able to escape.
Those killed were:
1. 'Abdul Rahman Mohammed Hamed al-Najjar, 16, who was mentally handicapped and on a visit to a friend in the area. He was hit by shrapnel throughout the body; and
2. Mohammed Hammad Mahmoud Kaware', 21, who was hit by shrapnel throughout the body.
A third civilian, 'Abdul Karim Subhi Salem Shubair, 16, a resident of the house, was wounded by shrapnel in the left foot.
Later, it was reported in the Israeli media that, according to Israeli military sources, the attack was aimed at assassinating Ra'ed al-'Attar and Mohammed Abu Shammala.
Al-'Attar and Abu Shammalla, together with three others, did a few months ago survive another assassination attempt carried out by the Israeli occupying forces. According to PCHR's documentation, on 14 July 2002, Israeli F-16 fighter jets launched missiles at the house of Yousef 'Abdul Wahab a few minutes after the targeted group had left the house. The house and a neighboring house were totally destroyed.
In addition, a pregnant woman suffered from a nervous breakdown and her child was injured.
A Palestinian Civilian Killed by an Israeli Settler
In another illegal aggressive action by Israeli settlers in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, on Sunday morning, a settler shot dead a Palestinian civilian.
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 09:00, Hazem 'Adnan Fannoun, 35, from Hebron, was traveling in his private car on his way from Beit Kahel village, northwest of Hebron, to the town. He stopped his car 50m away from a bridge established on the bypass road (35) and went towards a sand barrier to pee.
Soon, an Israeli car stopped approximately 30m away from him. An Israeli settler got out of the car, fired at Fannoun and then escaped.
Fannoun tried to reach his car, but could not. A number of Palestinians ran to him and drove him to the hospital, but he succumbed to his wound before arrival. According to Palestinian medical sources, Fannoun was shot by a live bullet that entered the right side and settled in the chest, causing an acute hemorrhage. According to eyewitnesses, no weapons were found near him, contrary to the Israeli claims.
Later, the Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot quoted an Israeli military spokesman on its Arabic web site as saying that "Fannoun was one of a group of Palestinians who fired at an Israeli gas truck, he was shot dead by a security man who accompanied the truck, a weapon was found near his body, and it was not clear whether he took part in shooting at the truck."
The Israeli forces also claimed that Fannoun was an activist of the Hamas Movement. In the afternoon, Israeli forces surrounded al-Ahli Hospital in Hebron and demanded the victim's body to take it to an Israeli legal medicine center to conduct an autopsy, but according to the same newspaper, the administration of the hospital refused and the Israeli forces left the area.
Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international law and 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 the Israeli military.
At approximately 01:00 on Sunday, about 40 Israeli heavy military vehicles, covered by intense gunfire and supported by helicopters, invaded the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. After they had seized control over the town, Israeli forces surrounded the house of deceased Mohammed Samih al-Masri, who had carried out a bombing against an Israeli gunboat approximately two months ago, and destroyed it. The residents of the 250-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house had already evacuated it expecting their house to be demolished.
Eight neighboring houses were damaged.
At approximately 01:00, Israeli heavy military vehicles, covered by intense gunfire and supported by helicopters, invaded the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. After they had seized control over the town, Israeli forces destroyed the house of deceased Mohammed Samih al-Masri, who had carried out a bombing against an Israeli gunboat approximately two months ago.
Also during the invasion, the Israeli forces fired at a Palestinian National Security Force facility, killing its officer, 'Ali Zhaher Nassar, 45, with several live bullets embedded throughout his body.
Nassar went out of the site, which is 1500m away from the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, one of the directions the Israeli forces came from, to check what was going on. When the Israeli soldiers saw him, they shot him dead with several live bullets. His body was found when the Israeli forces withdrew from the area. According to one of his colleagues, he was shot while he was 40m northeast of the site.
At approximately 13:00, an Israeli tank and a military bulldozer moved into Um al-Qurrais area in the north of Rafah. The bulldozer razed a 10-donum area of Palestinian agricultural land planted with olives, lemons and palms, and destroyed a 40-meter-long fence, a well and an irrigation network owned by Yousef Ibrahim 'Ali Dhuhair.
At approximately 23:00, about 150 Israeli soldiers, accompanied by a tank and a military bulldozer, moved approximately 200m into Palestinian areas in the southeast of Deir al-Balah. Israeli soldiers raided an uninhabited house owned Salim al-Zure'ei, destroyed its windows and transformed it into a military site.
Then, the bulldozer demolished a 500-square-meter bird farm and uprooted a number of palm trees owned by Suleiman 'Ali 'Arafat Abu Munifi.
At approximately 13:30, after the funeral procession of 'Abdul Latif Wadi who was killed during an Israeli incursion into Khan Yunis in the morning, Israeli forces in military locations in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of the town, fired at a number of Palestinian children who threw stones at the forces. Two children were wounded:
1. Mohammed Salim Jalal al-Farra, 13, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh; and
2. Ramadan Mohammed Harazallah, 16, wounded by three live bullets in the abdomen and the arms.
At approximately 21:00, medical sources at Shifa' Hospital in Gaza declared that Eyad Salem 'Othman Abu Sha'ar, 12, from Wadi al-Salqa village, southeast of Deir al-Balah, succumbed to a wound he sustained last month.
On 24 December 2002, Abu Sha'ar was critically wounded in the neck by a live bullet fired by Israeli soldiers for no apparent reason while he was on his way home. He had been in Shifa' Hospital, until doctors decided to transfer him to an Egyptian hospital, but he succumbed to his wound during the journey to Egypt.
A Failed Assassination Attempt
In another illegal military action showing the disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians, two Israeli combat helicopters launched three missiles at agricultural land southeast of Khan Yunis, in a failed assassination attempt that targeted two activists of the Hamas movement. Two Palestinian civilians, including a handicapped child, who were in the area, were killed and a third civilian was wounded.
According to PCHR's investigation and eyewitnesses' testimonies, at approximately 17:00 on Sunday, 12 January 2003, two Israeli combat helicopters flew over Khan Yunis and chased a civilian car, a white Subaru, that was traveling towards Rafah on the Khan Yunis-Rafah road (Salah al-Din Street). Ra'ed al-'Attar and Mohammed Abu Shammala, from Rafah, allegedly wanted by the Israelis, in addition to the driver, were traveling in the car.
When the car arrived at the crossroads leading to the European Hospital, southeast of Khan Yunis, the passengers noticed the presence of the Israeli helicopters, so they stopped the car and jumped out. They ran south towards agricultural land in the Fukhari area, followed by the helicopters which launched three missiles at the area. The missiles exploded on a tract of land located 30m west of a tin-roofed house, while the three Palestinian residents were inside.
Shrapnel of the missiles hit the three civilians, killing two of them, one was a handicapped child, and wounded the third one. The passengers of the car were able to escape.
Those killed were:
1. 'Abdul Rahman Mohammed Hamed al-Najjar, 16, who was mentally handicapped and on a visit to a friend in the area. He was hit by shrapnel throughout the body; and
2. Mohammed Hammad Mahmoud Kaware', 21, who was hit by shrapnel throughout the body.
A third civilian, 'Abdul Karim Subhi Salem Shubair, 16, a resident of the house, was wounded by shrapnel in the left foot.
Later, it was reported in the Israeli media that, according to Israeli military sources, the attack was aimed at assassinating Ra'ed al-'Attar and Mohammed Abu Shammala.
Al-'Attar and Abu Shammalla, together with three others, did a few months ago survive another assassination attempt carried out by the Israeli occupying forces. According to PCHR's documentation, on 14 July 2002, Israeli F-16 fighter jets launched missiles at the house of Yousef 'Abdul Wahab a few minutes after the targeted group had left the house. The house and a neighboring house were totally destroyed.
In addition, a pregnant woman suffered from a nervous breakdown and her child was injured.
A Palestinian Civilian Killed by an Israeli Settler
In another illegal aggressive action by Israeli settlers in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, on Sunday morning, a settler shot dead a Palestinian civilian.
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 09:00, Hazem 'Adnan Fannoun, 35, from Hebron, was traveling in his private car on his way from Beit Kahel village, northwest of Hebron, to the town. He stopped his car 50m away from a bridge established on the bypass road (35) and went towards a sand barrier to pee.
Soon, an Israeli car stopped approximately 30m away from him. An Israeli settler got out of the car, fired at Fannoun and then escaped.
Fannoun tried to reach his car, but could not. A number of Palestinians ran to him and drove him to the hospital, but he succumbed to his wound before arrival. According to Palestinian medical sources, Fannoun was shot by a live bullet that entered the right side and settled in the chest, causing an acute hemorrhage. According to eyewitnesses, no weapons were found near him, contrary to the Israeli claims.
Later, the Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot quoted an Israeli military spokesman on its Arabic web site as saying that "Fannoun was one of a group of Palestinians who fired at an Israeli gas truck, he was shot dead by a security man who accompanied the truck, a weapon was found near his body, and it was not clear whether he took part in shooting at the truck."
The Israeli forces also claimed that Fannoun was an activist of the Hamas Movement. In the afternoon, Israeli forces surrounded al-Ahli Hospital in Hebron and demanded the victim's body to take it to an Israeli legal medicine center to conduct an autopsy, but according to the same newspaper, the administration of the hospital refused and the Israeli forces left the area.
Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international law and 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 the Israeli military.
At approximately 01:00 on Sunday, about 40 Israeli heavy military vehicles, covered by intense gunfire and supported by helicopters, invaded the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. After they had seized control over the town, Israeli forces surrounded the house of deceased Mohammed Samih al-Masri, who had carried out a bombing against an Israeli gunboat approximately two months ago, and destroyed it. The residents of the 250-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house had already evacuated it expecting their house to be demolished.
Eight neighboring houses were damaged.