PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 8:50 on Wednesday, 21 February 2007, Mahmoud Awad El-Sumeiri (34) from Wadi El-Salqa village (east of Deir El-Balah) was killed by shrapnel throughout his body. The shrapnel was the result of the explosion of a homemade bomb that exploded when the victim handled it in a farm near his house. El-Sumeiri was taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. He was transferred to the forensic medicine department at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Read more about PCHR: Palestinian killed, 2 wounded, in weapons misuse
PCHR strongly condemns diggings conducted by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) in the vicinity of the al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Arab Jerusalem. PCHR further denounces storming the al-Aqsa Mosque and using excessive force by IOF against hundreds of Palestinian civilians who attended the Friday Prayer on 9 February 2007. PCHR warns of the continuation of diggings, which pose a serious threat to one of the holiest sites for Arabs and Muslims and agitate the feelings of more than one billion Muslims around the world. PCHR is concerned over IOF’s challenge for the international law and international legitimacy resolutions related to the Holy City. Read more about PCHR Condemns Israeli Diggings near Al-Aqsa
During the reporting period, IOF killed a Palestinian child in the northern West Bank town of Tulkarm. They fired one bullet at him when he attempted to escape. They left him bleeding to death. The victim was not armed. According to the child’s family, the child attempted to escape as IOF had repeatedly raided his family home searching for him. During the reporting period, 9 Palestinian civilians and a British journalist were wounded by IOF. On 26 January 2007, two Palestinian civilians and a British journalist were wounded when IOF used force against a peaceful demonstration organized in Bal’ein village in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall. Read more about Weekly Report of Human Rights Violations
PCHR calls upon the international community represented by governments and international organizations, specifically UNESCO, to intervene immediately to put an immediate end to Israeli destruction of Islamic holy sites in occupied Jerusalem, especially around Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Centre appeals to these bodies to take immediate action to stop Israeli excavations, and to provide protection for Palestinians and their rights, especially their cultural and religious rights; and provide protection for Islamic holy sites, which are an important part of human culture and civilization. Read more about PCHR: Stop the destruction of Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem
Yesterday evening, unknown gunmen fired at 4 members of the Izzedeen El-Qassam Battalions, the armed wing of Hamas, in Gaza City. One of the targeted individuals, Mohammad Deeb Salim Abu Karsh (24) from Gaza City, was killed and three were injured. One of the injuries is serious. PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 21:30 on Tuesday, 6 February 2007, unknown gunmen fired at four members of Izzedeen El-Qassam Battalions, the armed wing of Hamas, in Lod-Ramla Street in Gaza City. The shooting resulted in the killing of Mohammad Abu Karsh by bullets to the chest, abdomen, and extremities. Read more about One killed, three injured by unknown gunman
PCHR strongly condemns the bloody events over the past three days, the worst of their kind. These tragic events left 29 dead, including 7 civilians (incl. 3 women and 3 children), and more than 200 injured, half of them innocent civilians. The Centre welcomes reaching another ceasefire between Hamas and Fatah under Egyptian sponsorship Saturday evening. However, there is concern over the continued state of tension, military deployment, sporadic gunfire, and roadblocks in Gaza City. Since the afternoon of Thursday, 1 February 2007, armed clashes resumed between Fatah and Hamas militias and security forces split in allegiance to both parties. Read more about Along the Lines of the Bloodiest Israeli Incursions
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have escalated their war crimes in the West Bank over the past two days, killing six Palestinians in four separate crimes. Two were killed resisting an IOF incursion into Nablus. A third was killed in an extra-judicial execution in Tulkarm. A child was killed due to excessive use of force in Qalandia refugee camp, north of Jerusalem. And two Preventive Security operatives were killed in Beitunia, west of Ramallah. In addition, two children and an Islamic Jihad activist were injured in these crimes. Read more about Israeli Forces Kill Six West Bank Palestinians in Two Days
During the reporting period, IOF killed a Palestinian child in the northern West Bank town of Tulkarm. They fired one bullet at him when he attempted to escape. They left him bleeding to death. The victim was not armed. According to the child’s family, the child attempted to escape as IOF had repeatedly raided his family home searching for him. During the reporting period, 9 Palestinian civilians and a British journalist were wounded by IOF. On 26 January 2007, two Palestinian civilians and a British journalist were wounded when IOF used force against a peaceful demonstration organized in Bal’ein village in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall. Read more about Weekly Report of Human Rights Violations
Hussein Khayri El-Shobasi (30) from Khan Yunis was killed yesterday by unknown gunman in Khan Yunis; and Bashir Mohammad Issa (40) was injured in Gaza in similar circumstances. PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 12:15 on Wednesday, 31 January 2007, Bashir Issa was moderately injured by several bullets in the feet. Gunmen traveling in a car fired at Issa, who works in Force 17, in Jala Street in Gaza City. He was taken to Kamal Odwan Hospital in Beit Lahia for treatment. Read more about Palestinian killed by unknown gunmen; another injured
PCHR welcomes the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Fatah, which was reached under Egyptian sponsorship in the early morning hours of Tuesday, 30 January 2007. After announcing the agreement, the OPT in general and the Gaza Strip in particular have been calm. However, some forms of militancy and the deployment of gunmen remained in some neighborhoods. The Centre calls for the immediate return to political dialogue between both sides as the only option out of the current impasse. However, prior to this agreement, incidents of internal fighting continued. Read more about PCHR: National Unity Essential