On Monday, 8 January 2007, a Palestinian was killed as a result of the misuse of weapons in Nablus, and 22 stores were damaged in Ramallah and al-Bireh when unknown gunmen opened fire at them. According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 14:45 on Monday, 8 January 2007, Fadi Hussam Hassiba, 21, from Nablus, was seriously wounded by a live bullet to the head unleashed from a pistol he was cheking when he was in a shop owned by his father in the old town of Nablus. He was evacuated to Rafidya Hospital, but he died from his wound. Read more about One death in Nablus in weapons misuse
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights strongly condemns bloody incidents in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), especially the Gaza Strip, that have taken place in the context of the persistent political conflict between Hamas and Fatah movements. This conflict has been translated into violent armed clashes between armed wings of the two movements, among security services and among clans, in addition to other attacks. In the past 6 days, 16 persons have been killed and 117 others have been wounded as an outcome of these incidents. Read more about PCHR Calls for an End of Violence between Fatah and Hamas
A Palestinian civilian died from a previous wound in the Gaza Strip. 4 Palestinian civilians, including two children, were wounded by IOF. IOF conducted 22 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. IOF arrested 37 Palestinian civilians, including 6 children. IOF have isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world. IOF razed areas of Palestinian land in Um Salamouna village, south of Bethlehem, and 4 demonstrators protesting the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah, sustained bruises when IOF soldiers beat them. Read more about Weekly Report of Human Rights Violations
At approximately 08:00 on Saturday, 23 December 2006, two masked gunmen opened fire at Captain Hasan Imsa’il Jarbou’, 33, of the Preventive Security Service, when he was near the Star Square in al-Shaboura neighborhood in Rafah. Jarbou’ was seriously wounded by 3 live bullets to the chest and the abdomen. In addition, two bystanders, including a child, were wounded: Amal Eyad Jaber, 9, wounded by a number of live bullet to the hands; and Ahmed Ra’fat Mansour, 20, wounded by a number of live bullets and shrapnel to the abdomen and the left thigh. Read more about One killed, several injured in continued factional fighting
During the reported period, IOF killed 9 Palestinians, including a child, in the West Bank. On 14 December 2006, IOF shot dead a Palestinian civilian in Kufor al-Dik village, southwest of Nablus, when they chasing a number of children who threw stones at their military vehicles. On 16 December 2006, IOF killed a member of the Palestinian resistance in the old town of Nablus during an exchange of fire. On 19 December 2006, IOF shot dead 13-year-old child near the Annexation Wall in Far’oun village, southwest of Tulkarm. On 20 December 2006, IOF shot dead two members of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad) in Seilat al-Harthiya village, west of Jenin. Read more about Weekly Report of Human Rights Violations
At approximately 01:30 on Wednesday, 20 December 2006, unknown gunmen fired live bullets and RBJ projectiles at a site of the Palestinian Riot Control Police near al-Yarmouk Stadium in Gaza City. Earlier, at approximately 00:15, an exchange of fire erupted between members of Fatah movement and those of the Executive Force of the Ministry of Interior, who were on their way to arrest a member of Fatah movement accused of firing at a leader of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in al-Sabra neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. Read more about PCHR concerned about continuing violence despite ceasefire
On Tuesday afternoon, 19 December 2006, the bodies of Mohammed al-Harazin and Mohammed Kassab of the Palestinian General Intelligence were brought to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The two victims were shot dead, but the circumstances of their killing have not been clear. Earlier, at approximately 12:00, the bodyguards of the spokesman of Ministry of Interior, Khaled Abu Hilal, opened fire at a supply vehicle belonging to the Palestinian Military Intelligence that passed near Abu Hilal’s house in al-Jalaa’ Street in the center of Gaza City. As a result, two members of the Military Intelligence were killed: Shadi Mohammed Dhaher, 25; and ‘Omar Nader al-Wehaidi, 22. Additionally, 7 bystanders, including two school children, were wounded. Read more about PCHR Condemns Escalating Violence between Fatah and Hamas Movements
During the reported period, a Palestinian couple were killed in Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron, and their child was seriously wounded on 9 December 2006, when a mysterious object exploded in junks collected by the husband from an area used by IOF as a training site. On 12 December 2006, a 56-year-old Palestinian woman died from a heart attack when IOF detonated a sound bombs inside her house. On 10 December 2006, a Palestinian child was wounded in al-Fara’a refugee camp, southeast of Jenin, when IOF fired at a number of children who demonstrated against them. Read more about Weekly Report of Human Rights Violations
Today, 12 December 2006, the Israeli Supreme Court issued a decision invalidating amended article 5c of the Civil Wrongs (Liability of the State) Law that releases the State of Israel from all liability for compensation for any damages caused to Palestinians by Israeli Occupation Forces in areas designated as “conflict zones” in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). The decision came in response to a petition submitted in September 2005 by nine human rights organizations in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. However, the Supreme Court also decided not to strike down another provision (5b) of the law, which provides that Israel does not have to pay compensation for damages caused in military operations since September 2000, for “a citizen of an Enemy State” and “an activist or member of a Terrorist Organization.” Read more about PCHR plans to respond to Israeli Supreme Court's ruling on the Civil Wrongs Law with cases and actions
PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 7:40 on Wednesday, 13 December 2006, gunmen in two vehicles shot and killed Bassam Abdel Malek Abdel Salam El-Farra, a 32-year old resident of Khan Yunis. The victim worked as the Director of Family Counseling in Sharia Courts in the southern Gaza Strip. And he was a commander in Izzedeen El-Qassam Battalions, the armed wing of Hamas. The incident took place near the Bani Suhaila Sharia Court to the east of Khan Yunis. El-Farra was killed by several bullets to the head and chest. In another incident at approximately 19:00 on Tuesday, 12 December 2006, gunmen intercepted the vehicle of Ibrahim Jamil Mohammad Asabna (43-year old resident of Fahma village southeast of Jenin), who is a Hamas activist. Read more about Human Rights Updates on Security Chaos and Proliferation of Small Arms