Reference: 2001/25
Date: 10/5/2001

Press Release
The Israeli Occupations Forces Continue Shelling Gaza

The Israeli Occupation Forces shelled the heart of Gaza today, 10/5/2001, at 16,15 with what are believed to be land-land missiles controlled and guided from airplanes. This is considered a grave violation of the principles of international and humanitarian law and especially the Fourth Geneva Convention. The Israeli occupation forces continue shelling the Palestinian towns and villages in the absence of any international intervention especially the high contracting parties of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The shelling has resulted in severe panic among the civilian population especially children who had not yet left their schools. Moreover the shelling resulted in the death of Khadr Hasan Jundiya, 27-years-old, from Gaza City as a result of a heart-attack caused by the shock of the explosion. A number of residential houses were damaged and fifteen civilians were injured. The following buildings were targeted by the shelling: 

  1. The Headquarters of the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah). The missiles damaged the second and third floor causing severe damages. The missile struck from the eastern side which faces the Islamic University.
  2. The Palestinian Security Forces Station which includes the stations of the security forces bodies (al-Saraya) and aimed at the Scientific Department.

The shelling resulted in the damage of residential areas near to the targeted buildings, numerous injuries amongst civilians and the Palestinian security personnel who were in the vicinity. The following are the names of the injured:

  1. Adham Salim Husu, 23-years-old, shards in different parts of the body.
  2. Muhammad Abd al-Aziz Abu Rawa, 25-years-old.
  3. Wasam Riyad al-Anfar, 26-years-old, suffered from nervous shock.
  4. Raid Muhammad Said al-Arabeed, 25-years-old, shards.
  5. Samir Midhat al-Ghul, 23-years-old, shards.
  6. Midhat al-Ghul, 55-years-old, shards.
  7. salim Khamis al-Ribai, 30-years-old, shards.
  8. Khalil Dawad Darwish, 40-years-old, shards.
  9. Yihya Ali as-Samuni, 42-years-old, shards.
  10. Ward Khalil Amr al-Muqadama, 30-years-old, shock.
  11. Aziz Muhammad as-Susi, 3-years-old, shards.
  12. Adham Salah Shatara, 30 years old, shards in the head.
  13. Muhammad Musa al-Hawajiri, 30-years-old, shards in the lower leg.
  14. Salim Nail ash-Shurafa, 11-years-old, shards.
  15. Saba Dughmush, 18-years-old, shards in the head.

Concerning Rafah Town the Occupation Forces returned to fire heavily machine-guns and shells for the third time today against the Palestinian civilians and their residential houses in the area near Yibna Camp (Qasas Area). The shelling led to heavy damages in residential houses. Some of these are:

  1. Azmi al-Bauji
  2. Muhi ad-Din as-Saidi
  3. Fathi Saqr
  4. Khadr al-Hadidi
  5. Ata Shaqafa

The shelling led to the injury of a number of civilians, among these are:

  1. Ahmad Awad al-Mughrabi, 18-years-old, shards in the head
  2. Mufid Yusuf Obied, 32-years-old, shards in the abdomen
  3. Ibrahim Husain Abu Naja, 37-years-old, shards in the head
  4. Mahmud Yusuf Abu Taha, 15-years-old, shards in the arm
  5. Talat Abd al-Hai ash-Shair, 24-years-old, life bullet in the chest, critical condition
  6. Fadi Ali Juda, 17-years-old, shards in the right arm
  7. Fathi Shafiq Saqr, 45-years-old, shards in the right arm and leg
  8. Rami Ahmad al-Hams, 22-years-old, shards in the brow
  9. Shadi Sami al-Alul, 18-years-old, shards in the right leg
  10. Saqr Abu-Hilal, 23-years-old, shards in the right arm
  11. Ahamad Abd al-Rahim Abu hashim, 15-years-old, shards in the mouth
  12. Ramzi Naji Abu Suwailam, 19-years-old, shock

Concerning the continuous and dangerous escalation of the Israeli military occupation forces against the Palestinian civilians and their properties and the continuation of the conspiracy of silence from the international community regarding the crimes committed against the Palestinians, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights demands the following:

  1. Providing international protection for Palestinian civilians in the OPTs. The Security Council should immediately as a first step in that regard send human rights observers to the occupied territories. To monitor and document the situation.
  2. Demanding the EU to play an effective role to put an end to the Israeli crimes and in the upcoming meeting this month to review the Association Agreement with Israel seriously consider its termination.
  3. To immediately reconvene the conference o the high contracting parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to adopt measures to implement the provisions of the convention de jure to the OPTs. And that the high contracting parties should fulfill their legal obligations under the convention.
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Al Mezan Center for Human Rights
P.O. Box 2714, Main St., Jabalia Camp, Gaza Strip, Palestine
Tel. 00 972 (0)8 2453555
Fax 00 972 (0)8 2453554
www.mezan.org