LAW Weekly Roundup 03-09 May 2001
17 Palestinians killed including 4-month-old baby
Israeli army given unlimited authority to trespass PA-controlled areas
Introduction:
In the thirty-first week of the current Intifada, Israeli Defence Minister
Benjamin Ben Aliezar gave the Israeli army unlimited authority to trespass
within PA-controlled areas of the Palestinian territories, "whenever the
field leaders are ready!" Once these orders were announced, at around 9:30am
on Sunday 6 May 2001, Israeli forces, complete with tanks, armoured vehicles
and other military machinery, trespassed 400m into the PA-controlled suburb
of Beit Jala while simultaneously shelling Palestinian civilian houses. They
finally withdrew at 1:30pm, having killed one civilian and severely damaged
several homes.
Later that evening, in Tulkarem, Israeli forces trespassed 50m within
PA-controlled territory, shelling the south-western area of Tulkarem and
hitting a 45-year-old father of eight with artillery fire that led to his
death the next morning.
Early in the morning of Monday 7 May, Israeli forces shelled residential
areas in Khan Younis, as well as quarters such as Al Amal. Artillery fire
hit the home of a 4-month-old baby girl, killing her instantly and
critically injuring several members of her family. In addition to the
shelling of residential areas of Beit Jala, Tulkarem and Khan Younis,
several schools, colleges, ambulances and civil defence cars were also
affected.
The most terrifying Israeli crime this week was the killing of 4-month-old
Iman Hajjo, when artillery shrapnel penetrated her back and left through her
chest, also hitting her 20-year-old mother Suzan, her 38-year-old
grandmother Samia, her 18-month-old uncle Mahmoud and her 6-year-old aunt
Dunia.
Apart from Iman, six other Palestinians were killed this week: Ahmad As'ad,
I'beid Abu I'riban, Muhammad I'bayyat, Hussein Abu Tamam, Murad Al I'hroush
and Hashem Mamlouk.
Following are the gravest Israeli violations within the Occupied Palestinian
Territories in the period 3-9 May 2001.
1. Excessive use of armed force:
Israeli forces yet again escalated their use of excessive force against
Palestinian civilian demonstrators and used disproportionate force against
Palestinian National Security Forces, who were forced to respond in
self-defence. Two Palestinian civilians were killed due to excessive force;
an 18-year-old civilian and a Palestinian National Security Force officer.
On Thursday 3 May 2001, Israeli forces stationed near Al Mintar, east Gaza,
opened fire at Palestinian youngsters demonstrating in the area, wounding
three youngsters:
12-year-old Jihad Salim Abdil Hay from Al Zaytoon; gunshot in the left leg.
14-year-old Mousa Ashour from Al Zaytoon; gunshot in the right thigh.
14-year-old Ra'ed Al Zaharneh from Gaza; gunshot in the left leg.
Following noon prayers on Friday 4 May, clashes broke out between
Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli forces at Al Shalaleh Street, central
Hebron, to which Israeli soldiers responded by firing rubber-coated metal
bullets. At around 3pm, Israeli soldiers trespassed some metres inside
PA-controlled areas and fired 2 rubber-coated metal bullets at 14-year-old
Hazem Al Hashlamon, one of which penetrated his left thigh and settled there
and the other caused a flesh wound in the same thigh before exiting. Hazem
underwent surgery in Alia government hospital to extract the bullet that had
settled.
At noon, a number of Palestinian children and youngsters demonstrated at Al
Mintar 'Karni' crossing, east Gaza, to which Israeli soldiers stationed at
the crossing responded by firing live ammunition and rubber-coated metal
bullets. 7 youngsters were injured, including 18-year-old Hashem Al Mamlouk
from Al Shaja'yeh, who was critically injured when a live bullet penetrated
the back of his head and settled in the front, lacerating his brain. He
underwent emergency treatment in the intensive care unit of Dar Al Shifa'
Hospital in Gaza, but was later pronounced dead at 6pm on Thursday 8 May
2001.
Other injuries were as follows:
12-year-old Nidal Al Bishawi, Al Shate' refugee camp, gunshot in the face.
14-year-old Muhammad Radi, Al Rimal quarter, gunshot in left thigh.
14-year-old Muhammad Kasleen, Al Shate' refugee camp, gunshot in left thigh.
14-year-old Yousef Al Zahhar, Al Shate' refugee camp, gunshot in left leg.
15-year-old Khamis Banat, Al Tufah quarter, gunshot in pelvis and right
waist.
16-year-old Khaled Atiyyah, Al Shate' refugee camp, gunshot in the back.
At around 2:20pm that day, an Israeli tank fired artillery at four
Palestinian civilians walking near Ibrahim Haddad Tourist Resort, east
Jenin. The four were hit by shrapnel, leaving one in a very critical
condition and two in critical condition.
According to 21-year-old Shadi Mahajneh's affidavit to LAW, he and his three
friends, 30-year-old Nasser Jarrar from Burqeen Valley, 22-year-old Yihya Al
Zubeidi and 20-year-old Ra'ed Dabaya, both from Jenin, went for a walk near
the bypass route in the western area of Jenin, 500m from Deir Abu Da'eef
intersection and Um Al Tout, opposite Qadim and Janim settlements. Mahajneh
stated that Yihya Al Zubeidi saw two military jeeps and a tank leaving Qadim
settlement, about 300 metres away from them. No sooner had he brought this
to the attention of his friends, artillery was fired at them from the tank.
They were hit by shrapnel as follows:
Nasser Jarrar received shrapnel in various parts of the body, severing his
left forearm and right leg. Jarrar, who spent many years inside Israeli
prisons, works in the Islamic Endowment Department in Jenin and has two
children, the eldest of whom is 5 years old.
Ra'ed Dabaya received shrapnel in the face and over his body. He was taken
to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus in a critical condition. His 22-year-old
brother Fadi died on 29 October 2000 after having been hit in the head by
live gunfire on 26 October at Al Jalma checkpoint, north Jenin.
Yihya Al Zubeidi received shrapnel in the face and over his body. He was
also taken to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus in a critical condition.
Shadi Mahajneh received shrapnel in the face and all over his body.
On Saturday 5 May 2001, Israeli military forces committed another
extra-judicial execution, killing 37-year-old Ahmad As'ad from Irtas in
Bethlehem by spraying him with at least 20 bullets of various sizes all over
his body.
According to LAW's documentation, at around 8:15am that day, Israeli
soldiers and Special Forces positioned at the Israeli military outpost on
Abu Zeid Hill, opposite Irtas village, rained machinegun fire, live gunshots
and M16 bullets at Ahmad As'ad as he was leaving his home, 250m away from
the outpost. His 3-year-old niece Ala' As'ad was hit by shrapnel in the
legs.
The victim's 39-year-old brother, farmer Isma'il As'ad, stated that his
brother left home at around 8:10am for the Ministry of Interior in Bethlehem
where he worked. Upon leaving the house he stopped for a couple of minutes
to talk to his brother Mahmoud, who runs a nearby grocery shop with his
neighbour Waleed Abu Sway. When he was 2 metres away from them, he was
directly subjected to a heavy rain of bullets and killed instantly. Isma'il
pointed out that several of the bullets entered the grocery and injured his
daughter Ala' in the legs with shrapnel as she sat on an ice-cream freezer.
Isma'il As'ad also stated that eyewitnesses later told him of Israeli
soldiers and Special Forces hiding near a tree at the mouth of Abu Zeid
cave. When the victim appeared, they deliberately shot him.
It is worth noting that in mid-November 2000, Israeli forces arrested the
victim's 70-year-old father, Hajj Khalil As'ad, at Al Karameh crossing on
his return from Amman. They decided to keep him hostage until his son
surrendered, and the old man is still in detention, to the severe detriment
of his health.
Ahmad As'ad was an office manager at the Bethlehem Ministry of Interior, and
had spent eight years in Israeli prisons before being released 18 months
prior to his death. He was placed on the 'wanted' list 2 months after his
release
At around 1pm on Monday 7 May, clashes broke out between Palestinian
youngsters and Israeli soldiers positioned on the road linking Al Mintar
crossing, east Gaza, to Al Shuhada' intersection, south Gaza. The latter
opened fire, injuring two demonstrators:
22-year-old Jawdat Hamad from Beit Hanoun, gunshot in the left forearm.
18-year-old Sa'ed Abu Han from Al Shaja'yeh refugee camp, gunshot in the
left leg.
Israeli soldiers stationed at Al Shuhada' intersection shot 17-year-old
In'am Al Dahdoh from Al Zaytoon quarter, hitting her in the left leg.
According to information gathered from Gaza by LAW, she was working on her
family's land in Hujr Al Deek, south Gaza, 1km from the Israeli outpost from
which she was shot.
At around 3:10 pm that day, 22-year-old Murad Al Ihroush, a Palestinian
National Security Force lieutenant from Yatta, Hebron, was killed and two
other NSF officers injured at an NSF checkpoint at the western entrance to
Al Sumou' village, Al Seemia, south Hebron. The injured are 25-year-old
Majed Al Shawaheen from Al Sumou' and 22-year-old Mousa Abu Hashhash from Al
Fawwar.
According to information gathered by LAW, the three victims and Major
Mahmoud Ya'quob reached the PA-controlled checkpoint on a routine inspection
tour in a Palestinian NSF car. When they arrived, Israeli troops stationed
on a hill opposite the checkpoint opened heavy fire at the car from a
distance of 300m, killing the lieutenant and injuring his two colleagues.
According to medical sources at Alia hospital, Murad Al Ihroush was killed
when hit by 8 bullets in various parts of the body. Mousa Abu Hashhash
received two bullets in the head and chest and was taken to Hadasa hospital
in a critical condition. Majed Al Shawaheen, who was driving the car, was
shot in the right thigh.
At 8am on Tuesday 8 May 2001, a group of pupils from Deir Al Balah schools
demonstrated at Salah Il Deen Street, north of Kfar Darom settlement, in
protest at the killing of baby Iman Hajjo. In response, Israeli soldiers
opened fire from a distance of 200m with live ammunition, rubber-coated
metal bullets and teargas canisters. Nine children were injured by the live
ammunition while another was hit in the head with a metal bullet:
Ahmad Al Maghazi, 15, shot in the right forearm.
Amer Al Khateeb, 14, shot in the right hand.
Mahmoud Al Hasanat, 15, shot in the pelvis.
Mahmoud Al Ikhreibi, 14, shot in the left leg.
Sarhan Al Hasanat, 14, shot in the pelvis.
Abdullah Shaqurah, 15, shot in the left thigh.
Gevara Saleh, 14, shot in the left thigh.
Yousef Al Hawli, 12, shot in the back.
Sha'ban Baraka, 16, shot in the left thigh.
Nahed Al Biheisi, 10, metal bullet in the head.
In the morning of Wednesday 9 May 2001, clashes took place between
Palestinian youths and Israeli forces stationed on the road between Al
Mintar crossing, east Gaza, and Al Shuhada' intersection, south Gaza. The
Israeli army opened fire at demonstrators, hitting two boys:
Ameer Shanbura, 16, from Al Zaytoon quarter, shot in the right thigh.
Yihia Al Khuli, 15, from Al Zaytoon quarter, shot in the left leg.
2. Shelling:
Israeli forces escalated their shelling of Palestinian residential areas,
leading to the killing of three civilians, including a 4-month-old baby, and
the injury of dozen, including some with very critical wounds. A Palestinian
National Security officer was announced dead due to wounds caused by
previous shelling.
At around 5:45 pm on Thursday 3 May 2001, Israeli forces stationed at Beit
Hanoun ('Erez') crossing shelled Al Sikkeh Street in Beit Hanoun with heavy
ammunition. The shelling lasted until 7:30pm, severely damaging the main
water tank that supplies the eastern area of Beit Hanoun.
At around 1:45 pm on Friday May 4, Israeli forces at the Gaza Strip's
eastern border fired artillery at a Palestinian border post east of Al
Shuhada' cemetery, totally destroying it.
At around 2:30 pm that day, Israeli forces stationed at the City Inn Hotel
and at the West Bank Israeli army headquarters in Beit Eel, shelled the
'Find Foot' building with artillery and heavy to medium ammunition, as well
as the Ministry of Local Governance buildings and the main Statistics
department in Al Balou' at the northern entrance to Al Bireh. During the
shelling, two Israeli military jeeps trespassed 100m inside the
PA-controlled area from the northwest before withdrawing due to the
resistance and confrontation of villagers. As a result of the shelling that
lasted till 3:45pm, caused severe damages in the stone fronts of many
buildings and services networks. In addition to this, an ambulance belonging
to the Palestinian Medical Relief Committee was hit by gunshot from the left
and its driver miraculously escaped unharmed.
Five civilians were also hit by shrapnel and gunshot:
Hassan Nimer, 17, from Qalandia, shrapnel in the hands.
Hisham Isma'eel, 18, from Qalandia, shrapnel in the hands.
Munther Rajab, 31, from Al Bireh, gunshot in the right leg.
Tareq Abu Shaqra, 16, from Qaddura refugee camp, shrapnel in the limbs.
Anas Fayez, 13, from Al Am'ari refugee camp, shrapnel in the mouth.
At around 1 am on Saturday May 5, medical sources at Dar Al Shifa' hospital
in Gaza announced the death of 57-year-old Palestinian NSF member, I'beid
Abu 'Riban, from Al Nsirat refugee camp, due to wounds incurred on 27 April
2001, when Israeli forces at the border east of Al Maghazi military camp in
the middle of the Gaza Strip fired 3 artillery shells at the PNA outpost,
leading to the injury of 3 NSF members, including I'beid Abu 'Riban, who was
hit by shrapnel in the chest, face and back.
At around 2 am, Israeli forces stationed at Beit Hanoun ('Erez') crossing
shelled Al Sikkeh Street on the western side of Beit Hanoun, east of the
Gaza Strip, causing severe damage to many civilian homes:
Jamal Al Kafarneh's 140m¾ 2-storey house (10 inhabitants). Holes in outside
walls, damage to inner walls, smashed windows and severe damage to owner's
car.
Jaber Abu Odeh's 150m¾ house (6 inhabitants). Holes in walls, smashed
windows.
At around 11:30 am on Saturday 5 May, Israeli forces stationed at the top of
Al Quruntol mountain, about 1,500 m west of Jericho, used heavy artillery to
shell the Palestinian General Intelligence post set behind the district
building in the town centre. The GI post, which consists of 10 moveable
offices, was set alight and totally destroyed, and a number of nearby
buildings and many cars parked nearby were severely damaged. 9 Intelligence
bureau staff were wounded to varying degrees, including 2 critically:
36-year-old Khalil Ibrahim from Aqbet Jaber refugee camp received shrapnel
in the head and neck.
31-year-old Ayman Abu Sumbol from Aqbet Jaber refugee camp received shrapnel
in the abdomen and hands.
At around 1:45 am on Sunday May 6, Israeli military forces stationed at
Netsarim settlement, south Gaza, shelled the agricultural land in Al Sheikh
Ajleen area with artillery and heavy ammunition. The shelling also hit Al
Ja'l Gas Station 700 metres away from Netsarim, causing large holes in the
walls and a devastating fire.
At around 7:30 am, Israeli military forces stationed on the western hills of
Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Al Khader, and along bypass route #60, heavily
shelled residential areas in Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Al Khader, as well as
the Orthodox Club, Al Sider, the residential areas, the Al Hussein
government hospital, Talita Qumi school and Al Khader Gate mosque, with
artillery and medium to heavy ammunition.
At around 9:30 am, Israeli military forces trespassed 400m into the western
part of PA-controlled Beit Jala, shooting heavy fire at civilians and
houses. The shelling led to the killing of 47-year-old Muhammad 'Ibayyat
from Al Ta'amra, and ambulances were unable to reach him for 3 hours due to
the heavy shelling. According to LAW's information, the victim was hit in
the head by two bullets and killed instantly.
23 other civilians were also hit by gunshot and shrapnel:
5-year-old Nicholas Abu Ghannam, artillery shrapnel in the left arm. He was
taken to Al Maqased hospital in Jerusalem in a critical condition.
Rawan Zawahreh, 10, gunshot in the left shoulder.
Jameel Saleh, 35, shrapnel in the abdomen.
Hanna Miqdad, 40, wounds and bruises due to falling on ground while
shelling.
Ibrahim Al Hlifawi, 21, shrapnel in the left jaw.
Sufian Al Atrash, 23, gunshot in the left leg.
Rani Al Sha'er, 27, civil defence ambulance driver, wounds and bruises due
to falling on ground while shelling.
Nader Manasrah, 25, from Bani Na'eem, a Palestinian NSF member, shrapnel in
the head.
Ahmad Ibrahim, 38, a Palestinian NSF member, shrapnel in the right thigh.
Yihia Sabayha, 21, shrapnel in the face.
Jum'a Judeh, 20, wounds and bruises due to falling from high place.
Ashraf Mana'em, 21, shrapnel in the face.
Munjed Abdullah, 22, shrapnel in the feet.
Muhammad Abdil Qader, 60, bruises due to falling from high place.
Mustafa Qaraqe', 17, bruises due to falling from high place.
Musa 'Ibayyat, 45, bruises due to falling from high place.
Ahmad Izghari, 30, gunshot in the neck.
Ibtisam Ayyad, 30, bruises due to falling from high place.
Naser Abu Ramees, 18, bruises due to being assaulted by Israeli soldiers.
Hasan Id'eis, 30, bruises due to being assaulted by Israeli soldiers.
Mujahed Hamzeh, 23, a Palestinian NSF member, gunshot in the left knee.
Salim Abu Mafrah, 31, 2 gunshots in the abdomen and right thigh
Murad Al Najajra, 29, shot in the left foot
The random and extensive shelling caused massive damage to many house,
including those of the following Palestinians:
Fahid Ghnaim (8 residents). The house was totally damaged since it was hit
by three artillery shells as well as bullets fired by automatic weapons
Said Zahran (7 residents). The walls, the windows, and the doors were
extensively damaged
Mohammad Auda (7 residents). Extensive damage to external walls and sewers
Khaled Abu Srur (13 residents). Massive damage to balcony and external walls
Jad Ghazal, four-storey house, partially destroyed external walls
Akram Al Issa, second floor burnt completely
Two Red Crescent Society ambulances were hit by automatic fire while
assisting the wounded in Al Iskan area of Beit Jala. Two fire engines were
also hit by Israeli automatic fire; one of them was totally destroyed.
40-year-old Akram Al Issa from Al Iskan area in Beit Jala told LAW,
"At 7:30 am on Sunday 6 May, I was at home having breakfast when I heard
shooting. I took my children to another room inside the house, thinking it
would be safer there. At 7:45 the shells started to land near our house, so
my family and I decided to hide under the staircase. At 9:30 a shell landed
on the top floor, causing tiles to fall on us. We escaped and ran towards
the house of my brother, Burhan, just ten metres away. However, due to the
continuous heavy shelling, my family and my brother's family of 5 decided to
leave and head for the fields to the east, close to Al Duha, which is under
Palestinian control.
"After we left the house, two more shells landed on it at around 9:45,
setting fire to the second floor. At 10:15 the water tanks on top of my
brother's house got hit and his windows were smashed by the debris flying
from my house. When I left my brother's house, I sent my family and my
brother's family to our old house in Dhiesha. At 11:00 an ambulance and a
fire engine arrived, but the ambulance was forced to turn back because the
shelling was so heavy. The firemen left their engine and joined the
paramedics, who took off in the ambulance. The shelling went on until
midday; I watched it from a distance. I saw three Israeli soldiers 400
metres inside area A."
Said Zahran's son Madar, 27, told LAW that his family had been awakened by
the shelling. He added that when he looked outside the window, he had seen
shells falling in his backyard. They were coming from the Israeli outpost to
the west. The family hid in the ground floor. At 8:00 am, Palestinian
Security Forces arrived to resist the attacking Israeli forces. Madar also
stated that he had seen Israeli soldiers deep inside areas under Palestinian
control.
Fahid Ghnaim, 55, stated to LAW that Israeli forces stationed in Gilo
settlement, which faces Al Iraq quarter in Beit Jala, had shelled his house
at 1:00 pm on 6 May with three artillery shells and a few rounds of bullets
from automatic guns. The house was totally destroyed and its contents burnt.
The house had just been refurbished after the destruction caused by previous
shelling over the past six months, at a cost of more than 100,000 Israeli
shekels (approx. US $25,000). The house sheltered eight people including
three children, who were forced to evacuate it due to continuous heavy
shelling.
Sources at the Fire Department stated that the Israeli forces used several
types of ammunition during the shelling.
At 9:30 pm an Israeli tank advanced from its post at Netanya barrier towards
the Palestinian Security Force post near the 'Al Khadori' Palestine
Technical College west of Tulkarem. The tank penetrated 50 metres into
PA-controlled areas and opened fire on Palestinian security men. Meanwhile,
in Gaza, an Israeli tank stationed in Netsarim opened fire on the
Palestinian Security Forces' post from a distance of 300 metres, destroying
2 vehicles and ruining telephone lines, as well as damaging the fronts of
several houses and smashed their windows and doors.
On Sunday evening Israeli forces stationed at the Military Liaison
Headquarters and Ghishuri factory shelled civilian homes in the southern
part of Tulkarem, wounding ten Palestinians including 45-year-old Hussein
Abu Tamam, who was shot in the chest and the left arm while at home. He was
taken to Tulkarem State Hospital and then to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus
where he died on Monday morning. The Tulkarem State Hospital medical report
stated that Abu Tamam had been shot in the chest and the right arm,
fracturing several bones and severing his right index finger. Abu Tamam was
the father of seven children, including two - Nadir and Nasser - who have
been detained at Megiddo prison for the past 18 months. The shelling also
caused a great deal of damage to his house.
The other injured people were
Maram Karmash, 10, shrapnel in the left knee
Asad Abu Tabeekh, 14, shrapnel in the left knee
Amar Alyan, 10, shrapnel in the head
Linda Ata, 21, shrapnel in the head
Hussein Al Sarghali, 17, injured in the right eye
Said Katawi, 25, shrapnel in the left leg
Siham Abu Tamam, 40, shrapnel in the left arm
Wi'am Karmash, 5, shrapnel and burns in the left knee
Mohammad Drubi, 26, injured in the right eye
The shelling also hit 'Al Khadori' Palestine Technical College, destroying
its laboratory and the female students' health unit, as well as the
architecture department's warehouse. The shelling caused the walls of the
college to crack and smashed the windows. It also caused extensive damage to
the Vocational High School next to the college, where two shells landed and
destroyed the staircase, a classroom, and a furniture warehouse. Fat'he Al
Tirawi's apartment block was also badly damaged; eight apartments were
extensively damaged and several rooms were burnt down along with their
contents and furniture.
At 1:00 am on Monday 7 May, Israeli forces in Homish settlement shelled
Silat Al Thahir causing a great deal of damage to many Palestinian houses.
They also shelled the Palestinian town of Sanur in Jenin, wounding
39-year-old Ibtisam Issa and causing her to miscarry her three-month-old
foetus. The shelling also destroyed the front of the olive press belonging
to Mohammad Ali, as well as the water and electricity networks.
At 11:10 am on Monday, Israeli forces stationed at Jani Tal and Neve Dakalim
settlements, as well as at Al Tufah checkpoint, used artillery and medium to
heavy ammunition to shell residential areas in the Western Line, Khan
Younis, Austrian and Al Amal quarters. As a result, a 4-month-old baby girl,
Iman Muhammad Abdil Hameed Hajjo from Deir Al Balah, was killed in her
mother's arms after being hit in the back by shrapnel, which exited through
her chest and critically injured her mother, 20-year-old Suzan. The shelling
led to the injury by shrapnel of at least 13 other civilians, including:
Samia Muhammad Hajjo, 38, Iman's grandmother, hit by shrapnel in various
parts of the body (very critical).
Suzan Mustafa Hajjo, 20, Iman's mother, hit by shrapnel in various parts of
the body (critical).
Dunia Mustafa Jaber Hajjo, 6, Iman's aunt, shrapnel wounds in arms.
Mahmoud Mustafa Jaber Hajjo, 18 months, Iman's uncle, shrapnel wounds in the
abdomen (critical).
Ahmad Fathi Muhammad Safi, 15, shrapnel in the left thigh that led to
laceration of his artery and nerves.
Muhammad Ribhi Muhammad Safi, 17, shrapnel in the left forearm.
Wala' Sliman Abu Musa, 9, shrapnel in the abdomen.
Awatef Saleem Naser, 31, shrapnel in the abdomen.
Lutfi Fares Naser, 20, shrapnel in the foot.
Khaled Halil Abu Sittah, 15, shrapnel in the hand.
Kamal Tawfeeq Shana'a, 12, shrapnel in the eyebrow.
Muhammad Ribhi Muhammad Safi, 17, shrapnel in the left forearm.
Akram Minwar Abu Musa, 12, shrapnel in various parts of the body.
In addition to the death of the baby girl and the other injuries, 14 people
were wounded and bruised while trying to escape the shelling, 10 students
suffered severe nerve breakdowns and 2 pregnant women were transferred to
Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis with severe bleeding, as follows:
26-year-old Ni'mah Samri Ibrahim Abu Sahweil (4 months pregnant).
28-year-old Rihab Shahda Abu Sahweil (6 months pregnant).
While a PRC ambulance was evacuating and aiding injuries, artillery exploded
near it, which led to the injury of its 51-year-old driver, Hamed Abu Khosa
from Khan Younis, by shrapnel in the face. The ambulance was severely
damaged as well.
Artillery was fired near Al Aqsa Elementary School, where many children
suffered from panic attacks, nerve breakdowns and spasms. When Ahmad Abu
Mustafa's house was hit, shrapnel scattered inside Khan Younis Elementary
School, hitting 12-year-old Akram Abu Mousa. 10 other children suffered from
nervous attacks and fainting.
The following houses were badly damaged:
The 180m¾ 4-storey house of Adel Al Agha (13 inhabitants) that lies in the
Western Line. Both western and southern fronts of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th
floors were destroyed; windows, doors and a greenhouse were damaged as well.
The house is 450m from Jani Tal settlement.
The 200m¾ 1-storey house of Mustafa Hajjo (10 inhabitants). The asbestos
roof was damaged and holes in walls.
The 200m¾ 3-storey house of Ahmad Abu Mustafa (15 inhabitants), causing
large (150 cm diameter) holes in 2nd & 3rd floor walls, smashed windows and
destroyed doors.
The 100m¾ 5-storey house of Ibrahim Abu Awad (21 inhabitants) was hit by
artillery that caused holes in its western walls.
The 130m¾ 4-storey house of Adel Abu Ubayda (11 inhabitants); severe damage
to walls.
The 250m¾ 4-storey house that belongs to Abdullah Abu Ubayda (18
inhabitants), severe damage to walls.
3 residential buildings that belong to Al Farra Contracting Co. in Al
Shurouq quarter adjacent to the Austrian quarter. 6 artillery shells hit
them, causing 1-2m diametre holes in the western and southern walls.
Partial destruction of Al Amal market, total destruction of market roof and
holes in walls after 4 artillery shells were fired.
At 7:30 pm on 8 May, Israeli forces stationed at the Military Liaison
Headquarters in southern Tulkarem shelled the south-western quarter of the
Palestinian town. The shelling, which went on for five minutes, partially
destroyed the front of an under-construction school of the Ministry of
Education.
At 10:30 Israeli forces stationed near Sanur shelled Abdul Hamid Ali's house
where five people lived, destroying the external walls, windows, doors and
solar panels. This was the second time the house had been shelled; the first
was on 6 May and caused a miscarriage to Ali's wife, Ibtisam.
In the afternoon of Wednesday 9 May, 24 hours after the funeral of Iman
Haju, Israeli forces almost killed another Palestinian baby girl when they
shelled civilian homes at Yibna refugee camp in Rafah. The 3-month-old baby
girl Reem Ahmad and her mother 23-year-old Ayida Ahmad received shrapnel
wounds.
Mrs. Ahmad told LAW that her baby daughter was in her lap when the shooting
started from the Israeli tanks at the borders. Three bullets penetrated the
asbestos roof and ricocheted into the room, and she felt severe pain in her
back. Her baby girl started crying, and Mrs Ahmed saw that shrapnel had hit
the baby's head.
3. Settler assaults
On Friday 4 May 2001 near the Ibrahimi Sanctuary in Hebron, settlers
attacked 11-year-old Abdul Kareem Al Jabari with a sharp tool, causing a
wound in the boy's stomach 7cm deep.
At 3:30 pm a mob of settlers attacked Palestinian vehicles on
Bethlehem-Hebron road near Ifrat and Daniel settlements with rocks and metal
bars. The Israeli forces in the area did not intervene. 29-year-old Inas
Shihada from Hebron was wounded when a rock thrown by one of the settlers
hit her in the head, fracturing her skull. The victim's husband, 36-year-old
Taher Idkaidik, stated to LAW that he was travelling home in a bus with his
wife and children when a mob of settlers attacked them. Inas was hit in the
head and immediately lost consciousness. The settlers held the bus for
fifteen minutes while Israeli troops in the area watched without
intervening. When the bus moved settlers opened fire, threatening the lives
of its fifty passengers. Later, an ambulance was called and Inas was taken
to hospital, where she was discovered to have a fractured skull.
4. Bulldozing and demolition
On Saturday 5 May, Israeli authorities started the large-scale bulldozing of
Palestinian farm lands near Yabad and the surrounding villages, with the aim
of opening a new road for settlers that will pass through the lands of Baka
Al Sharkiya, Zabda and Barta'a to connect Hurmish and Shakeed settlements.
The bulldozers uprooted 300 olive trees before 9 May, and sources at Yabad
municipality have announced that the Israeli authorities will confiscate
1,800 dunums of land for the 9km road. The land belongs to the Abu Baker,
Abu Shamla, Abadi, Atatra, Hasan and Amarna families.
In the morning of Sunday 6 May, Israeli bulldozers returned to Beit Hanoon
to bulldoze more land, destroying land cultivated with citrus trees
belonging to the Murtaja and Al Da'our families.
On Monday morning, west Jerusalem municipality knocked down the Beit Hanina
home of Abdul Rahman Al Talhami. The 33-year-old Palestinian stated to LAW
that his lawyer had obtained a municipality order delaying the demolition
for 24 hours, but he later he received a telephone call from his neighbours
telling him that bulldozers had knocked down the 180 m¾ house where he
intended to live with his brothers Ahmad, 38, and Nidal, 32.
5. Attacking journalists
Israeli troops held 34-year-old reporter Khaled Al Khaldi from Jenin, and
27-year-old photojournalist Saif Al Dahla, both of the Palestinian News
Agency 'Wafa,' at Al Jalami barrier north of Jenin while they were working.
LAW documentation reveals that Israeli troops at Al Jalami barrier arrested
Khaled Al Khaldi and Saif Al Dahla while Al Dahla was taking pictures of
Israeli soldiers preventing the movement of Palestinian vehicles. The
soldiers forced the journalists to stand a few metres from an Israeli tank,
pointed their guns at them and prevented them from sitting down. They also
tried to confiscate their cameras. They were finally freed at 1:30 pm after
the Palestinian Liaison Office intervened.
6. Arrests
On 4 May Israeli troops placed a barrier on the Nablus-Jenin road and
arrested three students from Al Najah University affiliated to its Islamic
Coalition:
Mohammad Sabha, 27, from Anabta, Tulkarem, a final year student at the
faculty of commerce
Mutasim Samara, 23, from Tulkarem, a 2nd year student in the faculty of
education
Husam Al Bastami, 22, from Nablus, a 2nd year student in the faculty of law
On May 7, Israeli troops broke into Palestinian homes in Al Rajabi and Jabir
quarters of Hebron and arrested Abdul Munim Al Salayma, 38, and Ashraf Al
Rajabi, 20, both of whom work for the Palestinian security services. They
later arrested Auda Al Salayma, 36, at a military checkpoint.
Israeli forces arrested Dr. Fawzi Awartani, 35, from Anabta on May 7. Dr.
Awartani, the president of Rafidia Hospital in Nablus, was arrested on his
way back from Jordan. Awartani's brother Ayman, head of the IRCS office in
Tulkarem, told LAW that his brother was on his way home after representing
the Ministry of Health in conference about "Developing Health Services" in
London. He was taken to an unknown location; after contacting IRCS Ayman
discovered that his brother was being held at a police station in Petah
Tikva.
On Wednesday 9 May, Israeli troops arrested three Palestinians from Tubas:
Nadir Sawafta, 26, a student at Al Najah University and a member of the
student council; Nasser Daraghma, 35, and Khader Daraghma, 35. They were
taken to an unknown location.
LAW's field researcher stated that on Wednesday, a number of Israeli special
force agents in a Mitsubishi with a Palestinian license plates stopped the
Palestinian taxi in which the three Palestinians were travelling from Tubas
to Nablus and arrested them.
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LAW publications and press releases since 1994 are available on our website
at
http://www.lawsociety.orgLAW ñ The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the
Environment is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to preserving human
rights through legal advocacy.
LAW is affiliate to the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ),
FÈdÈration Internationale des Ligues de Droits de líHomme (FIDH), World
Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and Member of the Euro- Mediterranean
Human Rights Network