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Weekly Report: Jan 3-Jan 10, 2001
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
Introduction
This report covers human rights violations perpetrated
by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories during the period of January 3-10, 2001. During this period, the Israeli
occupation forces continued to resort to the use of lethal force, shooting at Palestinian
civilians and firing artillery shells and heavy and medium bullets at Palestinian
houses. The Israeli occupation forces shot dead seven Palestinian civilians,
including a woman and a girl, with live ammunition. The most recent victim was a
70-year old Palestinian civilian who was shot dead by the Israeli occupation forces on
January 9, 2001, while he was on his way to his land, 100m away from the border to the
east of Deir El-Balah. Among the victims was also a 21-year-old nurse who was shot
dead by Israeli occupation forces on January 7, 2001, while she was traveling by a
civilian car near Nablus. She was shot in the chest. Additionally, Israeli
occupation forces fired heavy and medium bullets in Hebron on January 5, 2001. A
girl was killed with a heavy bullet in the chest, fired by the occupation forces while she
was on the roof of her family s house. Furthermore, a number of Palestinian
civilians were wounded with live ammunition fired by the Israeli occupation forces.
A number of Palestinian civilians were wounded when the Israeli occupation forces fired
artillery shells and heavy and medium bullets at Palestinian areas. According to the
investigations carried out by PCHR, this attack on Palestinian civilians by the Israeli
occupation forces was intentional, and it was carried out in the absence of any threat to
the lives of the occupation forces.
Also during the same period, the Israeli
occupation forces continued to impose a total siege on the Occupied Palestinian
Territories. These forces also continued to impose an internal siege on the areas
under the control of the Palestinian National Authority, isolating these areas from one
another and from the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Finally, during this last week, the Israeli
occupation forces razed more areas of Palestinian agricultural land and demolished more
Palestinian houses and civilian facilities. This took place mainly in areas adjacent
to Dogit settlement established on the lands of Beit Lahia in the northern area of the
Gaza Strip.
1.
Shooting at Palestinian Civilians
Thursday, January 4, 2001
In the afternoon, at approximately 13:00
local time, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire from a tank positioned near the
junction leading to the Gush Qatif settlement block in Khan Yunis (Al-Matahen junction),
on an ambulance of the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The ambulance was on its way
on Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip),
transferring a sick child from Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis to Shifa hospital in Gaza
City. He was accompanied by a physician and a nurse. The ambulance was forced to
travel back to Nasser hospital. According to an official in the department of
medical aid at Nasser hospital, the transfer of the child was coordinated in advance with
the Israeli side. Nevertheless, Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire on the
ambulance that transported the sick child. Miraculously, the occupants of the
ambulance survived.
Friday, January 5, 2001
Early in the morning, Israeli occupation forces shot dead Mohammed Mahmoud Mohammed Abu
Hassira, 37 years old, from the Al-Daraj neighborhood of Gaza City. He was hit with
more than 20 live bullets in the head, chest, abdomen, and pelvis. The incident took
place in unclear circumstances, near the border in Beit Hanoun, in the north of the Gaza
Strip. He disappeared three days before the incident. He added that his
brother s absence for days was usual for his family, as he used to come back home or be
brought home by his brothers.
Sunday, January 7, 2001
In the morning, at approximately 11:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces fired
at the child Omar Farouq Khaled, 11 years old, from Al-Bireh, wounding him with an
explosive live bullet in the head. The child was evacuated to Ramallah hospital in
critical condition. Eyewitnesses said that a sniper from the Israeli occupation
forces shot at the child from an observation tower at the northern entrance of Al-Bireh,
from a distance of about 200m. PCHR has learned that a number of Palestinian
children then demonstrated in the area.
In the afternoon, at approximately 16:00
local time, some Palestinian taxis and private cars attempted to cross a muddy road from
the village of Salem in Nablus to a bypass road leading to Allon More settlement. A
passing patrol of the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on these cars from the bypass
road. Fatema Jalal Abu Jeish, 21 years old, from the village of Beit Dajan, to the
east of Nablus, was traveling inside the car of her sister s husband. She was hit
with two live bullets in the heart and the chest. She died before arriving at
hospital. The martyr was a nurse at the Arab Specialized Hospital in Nablus.
Also in the afternoon, at approximately 16:00
local time, Israeli occupation soldiers shot Bassel Dhiab Abu Oweili, a 22 year old, from
the Al-Ja farawi area of Deir El-Balah. The soldiers fired from a tank positioned on
Abu Houli road on the south of the Deir El-Balah, branch of Salah El-Din Street (the main
road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip). Abu Oweili was wounded with
shrapnel in the abdomen. He was evacuated to Shifa hospital in Gaza City.
In the evening, at approximately 20:00 local
time, Israeli occupation forces positioned to the south of Kfar Darom settlement fired at
Attwa Hassan Abu A azem, 48 years old, from the Al-Ja farawi area in Deir El-Balah.
Abu A azem was riding a bicycle from Deir El-Balah to his house in the Al-Ja farawi area
when he was shot by the Israeli occupation forces. There were no clashes reported in
the area at that time.
At night, at approximately 23:00 local time, the
Israeli occupation forces shot dead Abdel-Hamid Ahmed Mosabbeh El-Khoratti, 34 years old,
from the area of Al-Moghraqa. He was hit with several live bullets in the head,
chest, abdomen, pelvis, and the extremities. El-Khoratti was on his way from Gaza
City to his house in the Al-Moghraqa area. When he crossed the road, Israeli
occupation forces positioned on the roof of a nearby house opened fire on him.
Despite the fact that this transfer took place in accordance with instructions from the
Israeli occupation forces, they still detained the body on the road for more than seven
hours. The martyr s family could not reach the hospital due to the siege imposed on their
area of residence. Martyr El-Khoratti was a nurse at Shifa hospital in Gaza
City. He resigned nine years ago to resume his education.
Monday, January 8, 2001
In the morning, at approximately 8:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces opened
fire on some Palestinian young men who demonstrated in the east of the village of Hareth
in Salfit. As a result, Mohammed Ahmed Abed Souf, 27 years old, was killed with a
live bullet in the chest.
Tuesday, January 9, 2000
In the morning, at approximately 9:00 local time, two cars of settlers accompanied
by two military vehicles of the Israeli occupation forces, from Hoosh settlement
established on the lands of the Palestinian village of Silat Al-Zhaher, attempted to
forcibly enter the village. Residents of the village faced the raiders, who opened
fire on them, wounding Abdel-Hamid Abdel-Rahim Khanfar with a live bullet in the
head. Khanfar died on the way to hospital in a private car, which traveled on a
muddy road to Tulkarm hospital. It took the car approximately one hour to reach
hospital.
In the afternoon, at approximately 14:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces
committed another crime. They shot dead Ibrahim Hassan Abu Moghasib, 70 years old,
from Deir El-Balah. PCHR s field officer in the middle area of the Gaza Strip
reported that the victim was on his way to his land, 100m away from the border, to the
east of Deir El-Balah. He was evacuated to Shifa hospital in Gaza City, where he was
pronounced dead at approximately 19:00 local time.
In the afternoon, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on some Palestinian
children who demonstrated more than 100m away from military sites of the Israeli
occupation forces in the Al-Montar area, to the east of Gaza City. As a result, Sa
di Rajab Sobeh, 16 years old, from Beit Lahia, was wounded with a live bullet in the
leg. He was evacuated to Shifa hospital in Gaza City.
In the evening, at approximately 20:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces
opened fire on an ambulance of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in the Al-Moghraqa
area in the south of Gaza City. None of the staff of the targeted ambulance was
injured. PCHR s field officer who was present in the area then reported that
he saw the Israeli occupation forces shooting Mohammed Abdel-Hadi Shahin, 70 years old,
from the Al-Moghraqa area, when he crossed the road branch of Al-Shuhada (Netzarim)
junction leading to Netzarim settlement. PCHR s field officer added that Israeli
occupation forces opened fire from a military jeep and a tank on Shahin, from a distance
of 100m, wounding him with a live bullet in the knee. The Israeli occupation forces
allowed an ambulance of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society to evacuate him after a
20-minute delay.
Wednesday, January 3, 2001
In the afternoon, at approximately 15:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned
at the border in Rafah (Tal Zourob) fired heavy and medium bullets at houses in Block J in
the south of Rafah, about 1.5km away from their military post. As a result, Hussein
Ahmed Hussein Muttair, 49 years old, was wounded with a heavy bullet in the leg, while he
was on his way from his house to a mosque in the area. He was evacuated to
Al-Joneina hospital in Rafah. The heavy bullet Muttair received caused two vertical
breaks in his leg.
In the evening, at approximately 21:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned in
the vicinity of Neve Dekalim settlement, to the west of the refugee camp of Khan Yunis,
fired seven artillery shells and many heavy and medium bullets at Palestinian houses in
Khan Yunis.
1)
Shells hit the house of Abdel-Hakim Ahmed
El-Shanna, a 160-square-meter, one-story home, making holes 3-7cm in diameter in external
walls and destroying part of the fence, 4m long and 2.5m wide.
2)
Shells hit the house of Mohammed Hashem
El-Majaydeh, a 160-square-meter, one-story home, making holes 3-7cm in diameter in
external walls.
Thursday, January 4, 2001
In the evening, at approximately 22:00 local
time, Israeli occupation forces positioned in a military site at the border in Rafah
shelled Palestinian houses in Block O in the south of Rafah. The targeted houses are
about 80m away from the military site of the Israeli occupation forces. PCHR s field
officer in Rafah reported that these houses were severely damaged as follows:
1)
An artillery shell fell onto the house of Jaser
Abed Rabbo Musallam Abu Saleh, a 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which four
people live. It penetrated the roof and entered the bedroom, causing severe damage
to furniture. In his testimony to PCHR, Abu Saleh said that he and his family left
the house when the shelling started.
2)
An artillery shell fell onto the house of Naji
Abed Rabbo Musallam Abu Saleh, a 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which three
people live. It penetrated the roof into the living room, causing severe damage to
furniture. Residents of the house left when the shelling started.
3)
Live bullets hit the house of Eihab Sha ban
Salameh Abu Ghali, an 80-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which four people live,
causing damage to the roof, walls, water storage tanks, and the telephone network.
4)
Live bullets hit the house of Hassan Sha ban
Salameh Abu Ghali, an 80-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which eight people live,
causing damage to the roof, walls, water storage tanks, and the telephone network.
5)
Heavy and medium bullets hit the house of E
ssam Mohammed Saleh Abu Lebdeh, a 160-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which nine
people live, causing damage to the roof, walls, water storage tanks, and the telephone
network.
6)
Heavy and medium bullets hit the house of
Ossama Ali Rashid Abu Lebdeh, a 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which seven
people live, causing damage to walls, windows and water storage tanks.
At night, at approximately 23:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned in
military sites at the Al-Tuffah roadblock, separating Khan Yunis from its Al-Mawasi
(agricultural) area, shelled the west of the Khan Yunis refugee camp. The shelling
targeted Palestinian houses 50-100m away from military sites of the Israeli occupation
forces. These houses were shelled in the past, especially at night. Their
residents were forced to leave. The damage was as follows:
1)
The shelling made holes in the southern and
western façades of the house of A adel Ali Abu Obeida, a 130-square-meter, two-story
house, in which 11 people live.
2)
The shelling made holes in the northern and
western façades of the house of Abdullah Hassan Abu Obeida, a 250-square-meter,
four-story house, in which 18 people live.
3)
The shelling destroyed the roof of the house of
Rae d Khalil Mohammed Abu Rezqa, a 250-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which six
people live.
4)
The shelling destroyed the roof and made holes
20cm in diameter in walls of the house of Mohammed Ibrahim Mohammed Abu Awadh, a
140-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which eight people live.
5)
An artillery shell hit electric wires, cutting
electricity from the targeted area.
Friday, January 5, 2001
In the afternoon, at approximately 13:00
local time, tanks of the Israeli occupation forces at the border in Rafah opened fire on
Palestinian houses and the Al-Nour mosque in the Al-Barazil neighborhood, opposite the
border. The child Leila Fawzi Abu Hussein, 9 years old, was wounded with shrapnel in
the face. The child was evacuated to Al-Joneina hospital in Rafah.
In the evening, at approximately 18:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces
positioned inside Hagai settlement shelled the Al-Harayeq area, especially the
municipality housing project, in the southwest of Herbron. In addition, Ahlam Jebril
Al-Jabali, 18 years old, the cousin of martyr Arij, was seriously wounded with the same
bullet in the abdomen. The two victims were on the roof of their family s house,
when the Israeli occupation forces opened fire. They escaped to the staircase where
they were hit. Three other civilians were also slightly wounded, and houses were
severely damaged.
In the evening, at approximately 19:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces
positioned in a military site near Al-Tuffah roadblock, to the west of the refugee camp of
Khan Yunis, fired two artillery shells at the western area of the aforementioned refugee
camp. One artillery shell fell near El-Shafe I mosque, 300m away from the military
post. Shrapnel from the shell hit the nearby Al-Bahar road, wounding three passing
civilians.
1) Hani Suleiman Abu Obeida, 18 years old, wounded with
shrapnel in the back and the foot;
2)
Sami Ibrahim Mukheimer, 27 years old, wounded
with shrapnel in the back and the foot; and
3)
Basel Nahedh Abu Namous, wounded with shrapnel
in the chest.
The other artillery shell hit the façade of a grocery owned by Fayeq Oudeh Abu A kker,
causing severe damage and wounding:
1)
the child Nayef Ghazi Abu A kker, 8 years old,
with shrapnel in the back;
2)
Hussam Talal Abu A kker, 24 years old, with
shrapnel in the shoulder; and
3)
Mosallam Oudeh Abu A kker, 19 years old, with
shrapnel in the chest.
PCHR s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that Israeli occupation forces positioned in
the vicinity of Al-Tuffah roadblock and Neve Dekalim settlement fired artillery shells and
heavy and medium bullets at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis sporadically until 1:00 local
time on the following day. This caused severe damage to two houses, as follows:
1)
At approximately 20:30 local time, Israeli
occupation forces positioned in the vicinity of Neve Dekalim settlement fired an artillery
shell at the house of Mohammed Ali El-Toum, a 300-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in
which nine people live. The shell made holes 10cm in diameter in a wall and the
roof. The house is about 300m away from military positions of the Israeli occupation
forces.
2)
At approximately 21:15 local time, Israeli
occupation forces positioned in the vicinity of Neve Dekalim settlement fired eight
artillery shells at the house of A wni Ibrahim Abu Seif, a 150-square-meter, two-story
house, in which eight people live, making holes 15-20cm in diameter in its western
façade. The house is about 100m away from military sites of the Israeli occupation
forces.
As a result of opening fire by Israeli occupation forces positioned in the vicinity
of Al-Tuffah roadblock, the following Palestinian houses were hit with bullets that made
holes in their walls:
1)
the house of Mohammed Ali Salem Abu Obeida, a
400-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 20 people live;
2)
the house of Hussein Mohammed Ali Abu Obeida, a
250-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 11 people live;
3)
the house of Saber Hussein Abu Obeida, a
200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which seven people live;
4)
the house of Mohammed Suleiman Mohammed Abu
Mousa, a 380-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 19 people live; and
5)
the house of Nafez Mohammed Suleiman Abu Mousa,
a 400-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which eight people live.
Saturday, January 6, 2001
In the evening, at approximately 18:30 local
time, Israeli occupation forces positioned in the vicinity of Al-Tuffah roadblock,
separating Khan Yunis from its Al-Mawasi (agricultural) area, under the control of the
Israeli occupation forces, fired four artillery shells at Palestinian houses in the west
of Khan Yunis refugee camp. PCHR s field officer reported that the following houses
were damaged:
1)
The house of Abdullah Hassan Abu Obeida, a
four-story house, in which 18 people live. It is about to collapse.
2)
The house of A adel Ali Abu Obeida, a
130-square-meter, two-story house, in which 11 people live. The house was shelled
several times in the past.
Also in the evening, at approximately 20:30 local time, an artillery shell fired by
the Israeli occupation forces fell in the center of Khan Yunis, hitting the western
façade of a 200-square-meter, two-story house owned by Mohammed Abu Habboub, making a
hole 15cm in diameter. Shrapnel of the shell dispersed in the vicinity of the house.
Also in the evening, at approximately 22:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces
positioned at a military site to the west of Al-Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis fired more
than 20 artillery shells and many heavy bullets at Palestinian houses and civilian
facilities. Such shelling which lasted for about two hours caused damage to some
houses, 80-100m away from the mentioned military site of the Israeli occupation forces, as
follows:
1)
The shelling made holes in the western façade
of a market and broke its asbestos roof.
2)
The shelling made holes in the walls of a well
of the Khan Yunis Municipality.
3)
The shelling made holes in a cement store, and
in the walls of a brick factory. A brick-manufacturing machine, owned by Hassan
Mansi El-Tartouri, was also hit.
4)
Water storage tanks on the roof of a
120-square-meter house, in which seven people live, owned by Ali Ibrahim Wadi, were
damaged.
5)
Water storage tanks on the roof of an
800-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 25 people live, owned by Khalil
Abdel-Rahman A rram, were damaged, and the asbestos roof was damaged.
6)
Water storage tanks and a television aerial on
the roof of a 250-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which seven people live, owned
by Mohammed Saber Abu Sweis, were damaged, and the asbestos roof was damaged.
7)
The shelling made holes in the walls of a
60-square-meter house, in which three people live, owned by Khaled Mohammed El-Soleibi.
8)
Water storage tanks on the roof of a
150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which ten people live, owned by Khalil Ibrahim
Mohammed El-Bozom, were damaged, and the asbestos roof was damaged.
9)
The asbestos roof of a 200-square-meter house,
in which ten people live, owned by Mousa Salam Abu Mousa, was broken.
10)
The asbestos roof of a 150-square-meter house,
in which eight people live, owned by Khaled Mousa Abu So ud, was damaged.
11)
The asbestos roof of a 100-square-meter house,
in which ten people live, owned by Sobhi Ahmed A rram, was damaged.
12)
Water storage tanks on the roof of a
130-square-meter house, in which 12 people live, owned by Mohammed Mesbah Awadh, were
damaged.
13)
Water storage tanks on the roof of a
100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which seven people live, owned by Hatem
Mustafa Awadh, were damaged, and the asbestos roof was damaged.
14)
A television aerial and the asbestos roof of an
80-square-meter house, in which six people live, owned by Ne mat Ismail El-Bardawil, was
damaged and its asbestos roof was damaged.
15)
The asbestos roof of a 150-square-meter house,
in which four people live, owned by Yasser Yousef Abu Sae id, was damaged.
16)
Water storage tanks on the roof of a
140-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 11 people live, owned by Sa di Ismail
Bodeir, were damaged, and the asbestos roof was damaged.
17)
The shelling damaged the asbestos roof of, and
made holes in the front façade of a 250-square-meter house, in which eight people live,
owned by Maher Jaber Mustafa Hejjo.
18)
The asbestos roof of a 250-square-meter house,
in which seven people live, owned by Asa d Ismail Bodeir, was damaged.
19)
Water storage tanks and a television aerial on
the roof of a 130-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which six people live, owned by
E mad Khalil El-Bozom, were damaged, and the asbestos roof was damaged.
20)
The shelling damaged the asbestos roof of, and
made holes in the front façade of a 135-square-meter house, in which five people live,
owned by Khaled Attweh Mousa Abu Mousa.
21)
Water storage tanks and a television aerial on
the roof of a 130-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which four people live, owned by
Salem Salameh Abu Mousa, were damaged, and the asbestos roof was damaged.
22)
More than 70 heavy and medium bullets hit seven
commercial stores, making holes in their doors and walls.
Sunday, January 7, 2001
In the evening, at approximately 21:30 local
time, Israeli occupation forces positioned in a military site to the west of Al-Amal
neighborhood in Khan Yunis shelled a market and some houses in the mentioned
neighborhood. Live bullets also hit a 200-square-meter house, in which nine people
live, owned by Mohammed Mahmoud Shalloula, damaging its water storage tanks, breaking its
windows and making holes in its external walls.
Also in Khan Yunis, Israeli occupation forces positioned in the vicinity of Neve
Dekalim settlement fired seven artillery shells at residential buildings owned by the
Al-Farra Company. Artillery shells and live bullets were fired from 22:00 local time
to 3:00 local time on the following day. The same buildings were shelled several
times in the past, which damaged their western and southern façades. The Israeli
occupation forces also targeted a cemetery, making holes 20-30cm in its fence.
Monday, January 8, 2001
In the evening, at approximately 17:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces
positioned in the vicinity of Slao settlement in the Al-Mawasi (agricultural) area in
Rafah opened fire on Palestinian houses in the Tal Al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of
Rafah. Intensive fire, from the Israeli occupation forces positioned at the military
roadblock separating Rafah from its Al-Mawasi area, lasted for more than an hour. As
a result, three Palestinian civilians were wounded, and a housing unit, consisting of 20
apartments, 200m away from the military sites of the Israeli occupation forces, was
hit. Bullets penetrated walls and windows of seven apartments. PCHR s field
officer in Rafah reported that the following civilians were wounded:
1)
Sami Marzouq Abu Taha, 23 years old, seriously
wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen and the hand, while he was near a center of the
Palestinian Civil Defense, 500m to the east of military sites of the Israeli occupation
forces;
2)
Hassan Abdel-Salam, Hassan, 10 years old,
wounded with shrapnel in the head, while he was near a housing unit 200m away from
military sites of the Israeli occupation forces; and
3)
Yasser Ibrahim Mahmoud El-Kurd, 13 years old,
wounded with shrapnel in the head while he was in his family s apartment.
Also in the evening, at approximately 21:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces
positioned in the vicinity of Al-Tuffah roadblock fired more than 20 artillery shells and
many heavy and medium bullets at Palestinian houses in the west of Khan Yunis refugee
camp. The shelling lasted sporadically up to 1:00 local time on the following day
and resulted in the following:
1)
An artillery shell damaged the telephone
network, cutting telephone services from the area.
2)
The shelling made a hole 10cm in diameter in
the wall of a 200-square-meter, two-story house, in which 25 people live, owned by Talal
Mohammed Abu A kker. It also broke several windows and damaged water storage tanks.
3)
The shelling made a hole 25cm in diameter in
the front façade of a 150-square-meter, five-story house, in which 18 people live, owned
by Jamal Abdel-Hamid Mohammed Abu El-Nasser. 4) An artillery shell fell onto a civilian truck owned by Saber
Hussein Abu Khadra, while it was parked 350m away from military position of the Israeli
occupation forces.
5) An artillery shell burnt an awning in front of a commercial
store owned by Fae q Oudeh Abu A kker, causing severe damage to the store.
In the evening, at approximately 22:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces
positioned in a military site to the west of Al-Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis shelled a
market and some houses in the aforementioned neighborhood. PCHR s field officer in
Khan Yunis reported that the Israeli occupation forces fired seven artillery shells,
causing severe damage to the market and houses.
Tuesday, January 9, 2001
In the morning, at approximately 3:00 local
time, Israeli occupation forces from Morag settlement northeast of Rafah, reinforced with
three tanks and a bulldozer, opened fire on Palestinian houses in the area of Gizan
Al-Najjar in the south of Khan Yunis. An eyewitness reported that residents of the
area woke up, hearing sounds of shooting. The Israeli occupation forces fired heavy
and medium bullets at the area up to 6:00 local time, causing damage to some houses as
follows:
1)
Bullets penetrated the external walls and
windows of Rezeq Salameh Salman El-Shae r s 300-square-meter, one-story house, in which
six people live. In addition, a flare fell into a store of feeds and agricultural
equipment, burning them.
2)
Bullet made holes in the western and southern
façades of a 200-square-meter, two-story house, in which ten people live, owned by Saleh
Wahbi Al-Najjar.
3)
Bullets made holes in the external walls of a
180-square-meter, one-story house, owned by Abdel-Wahhab Wahbi Al-Najjar.
4)
Bullets made holes in the external walls of a
250-square-meter, one-story house, in which 12 people live, owned by Hamed Wahbi
Al-Najjar.
5)
Bullets made holes in the external walls of a
250-square-meter, one-story house, owned by Mohammed Wahbi Al-Najjar.
6)
Bullets made holes in the external walls of a
250-square-meter, one-story house, owned by Ahmed Wahbi Al-Najjar.
7)
Bullets made holes in the external walls of a
250-square-meter, one-story house, in which 10 people live, owned by Ismail Wahbi
Al-Najjar.
8)
Eight sheep were killed and another four were
wounded in a farm owned by A mira Salem El-A rjan.
In the afternoon, at approximately 15:00 local time, after a bomb was thrown near the
border to the east of Jabalya, the Israeli occupation forces shelled the area near the
border. This resulted in destroying a 100-square-meter, two-story building, owned by
Mohammed Rabah Hassan Abu Safeya, from Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City. The
first floor of the destroyed building consisted of an agricultural pool and an irrigation
pump, and the second floor was used as a vacation house for the family.
At night, at approximately 23:00 local time, an artillery shell fired by Israeli
occupation forces positioned in the vicinity of Neve Dekalim settlement , in the west of
Khan Yunis, fell onto Ahmed Abdel-Azziz preparatory school, about 700m away from the
military site of the Israeli occupation forces. At the same time, residential
buildings owned by Al-Farra Company, mentioned above, were shelled again, and received
more damage. In addition, the market in the Al-Amal neighborhood was shelled by a
military site of the Israeli occupation forces to the west of the neighborhood.
3. Razing of Agricultural Land and Demolition of Houses
Wednesday, January 3, 2001
In the morning, at approximately 7:00, the
Israeli occupation forces started to raze areas of agricultural land and to demolish
houses and agricultural facilities in the northwest of Beit Lahia, to the west of Dogit
settlement in the northern area of the Gaza Strip. PCHR s field officer in the
northern area of the Gaza Strip reported that this particular action lasted up to
approximately11:00 local time, and was resumed in the evening, at approximately 18:00
local time, lasting up to 23:00 local time. It included the razing and demolition
of:
1)
A 15-donum area of agricultural land planted
with vegetables, owned by Abdel-Latif and Oudeh Yousef Yousef El-Haw. In addition,
an irrigation network and a water pump were destroyed. The Israeli occupation forces
also demolished two houses and destroyed two cars as follows:
§
A 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house,
owned by Abdel-Latif El-Haw, was demolished.
§
A 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house,
owned by Oudeh Yousef El-Haw, was demolished.
§
A car owned by Abdel-Salam Oudeh Yousef El-Haw
was destroyed.
§
A car owned by Hassan Abdel-Latif Yousef El-Haw
was destroyed.
2)
A 12-donum area of agricultural land planted
with carrots and strawberries, owned by Akram Mohammed Younis Mustafa and farmed by A dnan
A adel Mukheimer Abu Halima. In addition, the Israeli occupation forces demolished a
85-square-meter, four-room building. One of its rooms, which contained a water pump
was also destroyed.
3)
A 16-donum area of agricultural land planted
with grapes, citrus, almonds and vegetables, owned by Abdullah Ibrahim Abdullah Ibrahim
El-Hajin. In addition, an irrigation network, a 100-square-meter building that was
used to store agricultural equipment and a water pump, and a 200-square-meter animal
pasture were destroyed. The Israeli occupation forces also demolished five houses on
the same tract of land as follows:
§
a 350-square-meter, one-story house, owned by
Abdullah Ibrahim Abdullah El-Hajin;
§
a 170-square-meter, one-story house, owned by
Samir Ibrahim Abdullah El-Hajin;
§
a 150-square-meter, one-story house, owned by
Khaled Ibrahim Abdullah El-Hajin;
§
a 100-square-meter, one-story house, owned by
Sami Ibrahim Abdullah El-Hajin; and
§
a 150-square-meter, one-story house, owned
by Abdullah Samir El-Hajin;
4)
A 29-donum area of agricultural land planted
with strawberries and vegetables, owned by Ramadan Mohammed Saleh El-A ttar. In
addition, an irrigation network, and a 70-square-meter building that contained a water
pump and agricultural equipment were destroyed.
5)
A 10.5-donum area of agricultural land planted
with vegetables, owned by Mahmoud Shehadeh Khalil Tafesh. The Israeli occupation
forces also demolished the following:
§
a 100-square-meter building that contained a
well and agricultural equipment was destroyed; and
§
a 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house,
owned by the owner of this tract of land.
6)
An 11-donum area of agricultural land planted
with citrus, owned by Talal Mohammed Mahmoud Rihan. In addition, a 50-square-meter
building that was used as storage on the same tract of land was destroyed.
7)
A 10-donum area of agricultural land planted
with citrus, a part of a 40-donum area of agricultural land, owned by Ismail Ali.
8)
They began to raze a 24-donum area of
agricultural land planted with vegetables, owned by Saleh Mahmoud Hammouda El-A
ttar. In addition, ten greenhouses on the land were destroyed.
9)
A 10-donum area of agricultural land planted
with grapes owned by Hashem Mohammed Ali El-A ttar.
In the evening, at approximately 22:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces
started to raze areas of agricultural land near the border in the Tal-Zourob area in the
southwest of Rafah, to the east of a military site of the Israeli occupation forces at the
border. PCHR s field officer in Rafah reported that the Israeli occupation forces
razed a five-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms, owned by Ziad
Sheheteh Saleh Zourob. In addition, a greenhouse on the same tract of land, planted
with vegetables, was destroyed. PCHR s field officer added that some greenhouses in
the affected area were severely damaged because Israeli occupation forces positioned at
the borderline fired some artillery shells and flares at the area.
Friday, January 5, 2001
In the morning, at approximately 7:00 local
time, the Israeli occupation forces resumed razing areas of agricultural land, which
started on the previous day, in the northwest of Beit Lahia. PCHR s field officer in
the northern area of the Gaza Strip reported that the Israeli occupation forces:
1)
Demolished a 100-square-meter building that
included three rooms, a storage space of agricultural equipment, a well and a water pump,
on a tract of land owned by Saleh Mahmoud Hammouda El-A ttar, mentioned above.
2)
Razed an 18-donum area of agricultural land
planted with potatoes, and demolished a 150-square-meter house that included four rooms
and a well, owned by Mohammed Hamada.
3)
Razed a 24-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus, and destroyed a well, owned by Ismail El-Jadbeh.
4)
Razed a 24-donum area of agricultural land
planted with vegetables and citrus, and demolished a 180-square-meter, two-story house,
owned by the family of Arafat.
5)
Razed a ten-donum area of agricultural land
planted with grapes and figs, and demolished some kiosks in which farmers used to rest,
owned by Mohammed Abed Ma rouf.
6)
Razed a one-donum area of agricultural land
planted with vegetables, and demolished a 70-square-meter house, owned by Fares El-Akhras.
In the evening, at approximately, 21:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces
started to raze areas of agricultural land and to demolish houses to the north of Dogit
settlement in the north of the Gaza Strip.
1)
A 40-donum area of agricultural land planted
with fruits and citrus, owned by Mousa El-Moghrabi and his brother. In addition, an
irrigation network and an electricity generator were destroyed.
2)
A ten-donum area of agricultural land planted
with strawberries, and three greenhouses planted with vegetables, owned by Mahmoud
Mohammed Suleiman Abu Halima. In addition, an irrigation network and agricultural
equipment were destroyed.
3)
A seven-donum area of agricultural land planted
with strawberries, owned by Ja far Edris Ahmed Khudeir. 4)
A six-donum area of agricultural land planted
with strawberries, owned by Akram Edris Ahmed Khudeir.
5)
A two-donum area of agricultural land planted
with strawberries, owned by Khamis Mohammed Abu Halima.
6)
A 25-donum area of agricultural land planted
with vegetables, on a part of which three greenhouses were established, owned by Salah
Khadher Ahmed Abu Halima. In addition, the Israeli occupation forces demolished a
120-square-meter, four-room house that contained agricultural equipment.
7)
A six-donum area of agricultural land planted
with strawberries, owned by Ahmed Hassan El-Shanti and farmed by Yousef A ayesh Hussein
El-Da adleh. The Israeli occupation forces also demolished a 200-square-meter house
and a well on the same tract of land.
Saturday, January 6, 2001
In the evening, the Israeli occupation forces razed areas of agricultural land in
the area of Al-Shouka in the east of Rafah, near the border. These forces razed a
three-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, palms and vegetables, owned by
Hmeidan Hammad El-Debari and farmed by his grandsons. They also destroyed an
agricultural pool and an irrigation network.
Sunday, January 7, 2000
At night, the Israeli occupation forces razed
areas of agricultural land on the southern side of a branch road, about 400m to the west
of Al-Shuhada (Netzarim) junction, to the south of Gaza City. These forces razed:
1)
A two-donum area of agricultural land planted
with oranges, owned by Hassan A zzam. The Israeli occupation forces razed a
ten-donum area planted with figs and olives owned by the same citizen one week earlier,
and no information about this action was available then because the Israeli occupation
forces strictly closed the area.
2)
A ten-donum area of agricultural land planted
with oranges, owned by Ragheb Abu Sha ban.
PCHR s field officer in the area reported that Israeli occupation soldiers mounted
on three Palestinian houses owned by Munther, Mustafa and Ma moun Atta El-Helo and
detained their residents from 21:00 local time to 5:00 local time on the following day.
Monday, January 8, 2001
In the evening, at approximately 18:00 local
time, the Israeli occupation forces started to raze more areas of agricultural land to the
west of Dogit settlement in the north of Beit Lahia. PCHR s field officer in the
northern area of the Gaza Strip reported that this particular action lasted until 2:30
local time on the following day during which the Israeli occupation forces razed:
1)
A three-donum area of agricultural land, on
which three greenhouses planted with vegetables stood, owned by Yasser Fayez Abed
Tafesh. In addition, a 500-square-meter bird farm was demolished.
2)
An eight-donum area of agricultural land, on
which stood eight greenhouses planted with vegetables, owned by Sofian Fayez Abed
Tafesh. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.
3)
A three-donum area of agricultural land, on
which three greenhouses planted with vegetables stood, owned by Jasser Fayez Abed Tafesh.
4)
A seven-donum area of agricultural land planted
with citrus, owned by Nasser Fayez Abed Tafesh.
5)
A seven-donum area of agricultural land planted
with citrus, owned by Baker Fayez Abed Tafesh.
6)
The Israeli occupation forces started to raze a
13.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by Mohammed Mahmoud
Rihan. In addition, these forces destroyed a 50-square-meter building established on
the same tract of land that included a well, storage for agricultural equipment and a
room.
7)
An 11-donum area of agricultural land planted
with citrus, owned by Talal Mohammed Mahmoud Rihan.
8)
A five-donum area of agricultural land planted
with strawberries, owned by Mohammed Mohammed Abu Daf.
9)
The Israeli occupation forces destroyed three
wells owned by families of Al-Weheidi, Al-Shawa and Al-Ghosein. Areas of
agricultural land planted with citrus and irrigated by these wells are threatened with
razing.
In the evening, at approximately 19:00 local time,
the Israeli occupation forces razed more areas of agricultural land near Netzarim
settlement to the south of Gaza City. In a testimony under oath Ali Fayez Al-Weheidi
said that he learned that the Israeli occupation forces razed a 55-donum area of
agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by his family. This particular action
lasted until 23:00 local time and included destroying irrigation networks.
Al-Weheidi has not been able so far to reach his land because the Israeli occupation
forces have continued to close the area. It is worth mentioning that the Israeli
occupation forces razed about 90 donums of land owned by the family of Al-Weheidi in the
same area in the past weeks.
Furthermore, the Israeli occupation forces demolished two tin houses whose owners left
them in the past three months. The two houses were:
1) a
16-square-meter tin house, in which five people used to live, owned by Abdel-Karim Abu
Khubbeiza; and
2) a
16-square-meter tin house, in which six people used to live, owned by E id Abu
Khubbeiza.
Tuesday, January 9, 2001
In the morning, at approximately 8:00 local
time, Israeli occupation forces positioned in Kfar Darom settlement, to the east of Deir
El-Balah, started to establish a new settlement road 100m long and 20m wide that would
connect the settlement with its greenhouses in the east. This new settlement road
crosses areas of Palestinian agricultural land which the Israeli occupation forces razed
in the past weeks, dividing them into two parts. These areas are:
1)
an eight-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives owned by Mohammed El-Ma ni;
2)
a 20-donum area of agricultural land planted
with olives, including a greenhouse planted with vegetables, owned by Mohammed A aref
Baraka;
3)
a four-donum area of agricultural land planted
with olives, owned by Samir Salman El-A zayzeh;
4)
a 20-donum area of agricultural land planted
with olives, owned by Asa ad El-A zayzeh;
5)
a 20-donum area of agricultural land planted
with olives, owned by Khalil El-A zayzeh; and
6)
a six-donum area of agricultural land planted
with olives, owned by Jamil Younis Bashir.
Wednesday, January 10, 2001
The Israeli occupation forces razed more areas
of agricultural land in the north of Beit Lahia. PCHR s field officer in the
northern area of the Gaza Strip reported that the Israeli occupation forces razed more
areas of agricultural land to the west of Dogit settlement, as follows:
1)
The Israeli occupation forces completed razing
a 13.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus owned by Elias Mohammed Mahmoud
Rihan.
2)
These forces razed a five-donum area of
agricultural land planted with vegetables and strawberries, owned by Hamdi Mohammed Khalil
Abu Daf.
3)
These forces razed a 20-donum area of
agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by Sae b Al-Weheidi.
4)
These forces razed most of a 24-donum area of
agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by Anwar Al-Shawa.
5)
These forces razed a ten-donum area of
agricultural land planted with citrus, which is a part of 40 donums owned by Ismail
Ali. It is worth mentioning that the Israeli occupation forces razed ten donums of
the same tract of land on January 3, 2001 and the remainder of land is threatened with
razing.
PCHR s field officer added that bulldozers of the Israeli occupation forces were
still in the area, leveling the areas of land that were razed, and that some Palestinian
farmers dismantled their greenhouses near the aforementioned areas fearing that these
greenhouses might be razed. PCHR s field officer also added that the Israeli
occupation forces notified Yasser Tafesh (Zendah) to evacuate his house which he shares
with his 12-member family, adjacent to the southwestern border of Dogit settlement.
4. Restrictions
on Free Movement
The Israeli occupation forces have continued to impose a total siege on the occupied
Palestinian territories. These forces have continued to close all international
crossings of the occupied Palestinian territories, the Rafah Border Crossing with Egypt
and the Al-Karama Border Crossing with Jordan, as well as Gaza International
Airport. These forces have also closed all border crossings through their
territories, prohibiting the movement of Palestinian citizens between the West Bank and
the Gaza Strip. In the meantime, the Israeli occupation forces have continued to
isolate Jerusalem from the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories. They have
also continued to close all commercial crossings into the Gaza Strip, allowing the entry
of only limited basic materials through the Al-Montar (Karni) Outlet. At the same
time, Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with military vehicles, have been deployed at
the entrances of Palestinian cities and on the main roads, imposing a strict siege on all
Palestinian cities in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. They have isolated the areas
under the control of the Palestinian National Authority from one another and from the rest
of the occupied Palestinian territories.
In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli occupation forces have continued to impose a strict
total siege, dividing the strip into three Bantustons separated from one another.
The three divisions are:
§
Gaza City and the northern area of the Gaza Strip;
§
the middle area; and
§
Rafah and Khan Yunis.
The Israeli occupation forces have also continued to impose a strict siege on the
Al-Mawasi (agricultural) area in the west of Rafah and Khan Yunis, which is under the
control of the Israeli occupation forces. They have restricted the movement of its
Palestinian residents, including denying the access of students to their educational
institutions. (For more information about the siege and its disastrous impacts on
Palestinian civilians, see Closure Update 31 by issued by PCHR.)
***
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