Israeli
Forces Kill 13 Palestinians
In Gaza And Rafah
Report, PCHR,
12 February 2004
On
Wednesday morning, 11 February 2004, 12 Palestinians were killed by
Israeli occupying forces in al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza city and
one Palestinian was killed by Israeli forces in the Rafah refugee camp.
Three of the victims killed in al-Shojaeya died when Israeli occupying
forces destroyed a house over them. In addition, at least 50 Palestinians,
including 23 children, were injured in the two incidents. Medical sources
at hospitals in the Gaza Strip described the condition of 20 of those
injured as moderate to serious.
These developments
took place as Israeli occupying forces, supported by helicopters, moved
into al-Shojaeya neighborhood in the east of Gaza city and into Rafah
refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip. Israeli military sources claimed
that the two incursions were conducted with the aim of arresting wanted
individuals. At time of issue, Israeli forces have withdrawn from al-Shojaeya
neighborhood, but remain inside the Rafah refugee camp.
According to preliminary
investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 05:00 this morning,
an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Shojaeya
neighborhood in the east of Gaza city coming from Nahal Ouz crossing
on the eastern border of the Gaza Strip. The unit moved towards a Palestinian
National Security Forces post. Israeli soldiers and the Palestinian
security services exchanged fire.
As a result, a Palestinian
security man, Mohammed Kamal Abu Armana, 22, from al-Boreij refugee
camp, was killed, and 2 other Palestinian security men were injured.
A few minutes later, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military
vehicles and covered by intense shelling, moved approximately 1500m
into al-Shojaeya neighborhood. Israeli forces surrounded a 250-square-meter,
2-storey house belonging to the family of Ashraf Abu Hassanain, 22,
who was reportedly wanted by the Israeli occupation forces.
Israeli soldiers
ordered the 3 families (17 people) living in the house out. Soon after,
Israeli soldiers opened fire at the house in which Ashraf and 2 of his
colleagues were hiding. Ashraf and his colleagues exchanged fire with
Israeli forces. When the exchange of fire had stopped, Israeli forces
destroyed the house with the 3 men inside. When Israeli forces withdrew
from the neighborhood, the bodies of Ashraf and his two colleagues
Ayman Nasser al-Sheikh Khalil, 22, and Mohammed al-Hayek, 25
were found near the house.
As a result of excessive
and indiscriminate use of force, 4 Palestinians were killed and more
than 40 others, including 20 children, were injured in the incursion
into al-Shojaeya. Some of the injured remain in a serious condition.
PCHRs field
workers have not as yet been able to verify the exact circumstances
of the deaths of the four Palestinians as the area was largely inaccessible
due to the Israeli military presence. However, initial information indicates
that during this incursion, members of the Palestinian resistance clashed
with Israeli forces and as a result, 4 members of the Palestinian resistance
were killed.
The remaining eight
victims have been identified as: Hani Mahmoud Abu Sukhaila, 25, from
Jabalya refugee camp; Haitham Zaki Aabed, 25, from al-Shojaeya
neighborhood; Mohammed Aayesh al-Ejla, 45, from al-Shojaeya
neighborhood; Ismail Mohammed Abu al-Ata, 28, from al-Shojaeya
neighborhood; Mohammed Ahmed Helles, 17, from al-Shojaeya neighborhood;
Akram Oqailan, 25, from al-Shati refugee camp; Mahdi Yaqoub
Zaidia, 25, from al-Shojaeya neighborhood; and Aamer Othman
al-Ghamari, 24, from al-Shojaeya neighborhood.
According to medical
sources, the victims all died of wounds sustained from live bullets
and/or shrapnel from artillery shells.
In the second incident,
at approximately 04:00 this morning, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced
by heavy military vehicles and helicopters, moved into Block J in Rafah
refugee camp adjacent to the Egyptian border. They moved forward towards
Abu Baker al-Siddiq Street, which links Rafah refugee camp and Tal al-Sultan
neighborhood. Israeli forces closed the road and took up positions on
the roofs of a number of houses, opening fire at the street below.
A Palestinian civilian,
Ibrahim Mohammed Zorob, 27, was killed by a live bullet in the
head while he was standing on the balcony of his house. In addition,
7 civilians, including 3 children, were injured. Two of the injured
were described as being in a serious condition. Israeli occupying forces
have so far maintained their presence in the area, opening fire sporadically
in the neighbourhood. Classes at 12 schools in the area were interrupted.
PCHR strongly condemns
these continued violations of international human rights and humanitarian
law, including war crimes, perpetrated by the Israeli occupying forces
against Palestinian civilians and property. PCHR believes that the failure
to act by the international community serves only to encourage further
violations. PCHR calls upon the international community to immediately
intervene to stop these violations.
PCHR also reminds
the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of their
absolute legal obligations to ensure respect for the Convention in all
circumstances and demands that they take concrete steps to stop these
violations perpetrated by Israeli occupying forces in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories.