Press Releases
27 September 2001 |Reference 51/2001
Short Link:
In a new Israeli escalation after the attacks in the USA, the Israeli occupation army increases its aggression against Palestinian civilians and their property in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The new attacks aimed to kill and wound as many Palestinians civilians and property as possible.
Last night Rafah witnessed intensive shelling with various weapons, including tank artillery.
The shelling continued from 23:00 till 5:00 in Block O, and al-Brazil area near Salah ad-Din Gate.
As a result, three Palestinian civilians were killed:
Khalid Mahmud Abu Habib, twenty-five years old.
Directly hit by a tank shell.
Akram Abu Libdih, twenty-eight.
Lost a leg, an arm and the left eye.
Mahmud Fathi ash-Shair, twenty-five years old.
The three persons died by direct injuries due to tank shells that caused separation to parts of their bodies including heads, legs and arms.
Twenty-two other Palestinians were wounded due to the shelling.
The Israeli forces also bulldozed tens of residential houses.
The center’s field workers reported the following house owners:
Yusif Mhamud Qishta,
Yusif Barhom Qishta
Suliman said Qishta
Jalal and Jamal Abu Zuhri
All of these houses were totally bulldozed.
In addition, the houses of Abdul Karim Qishta, Farid Qishta, Walid Qishta and Samir Abu Libdih were severely damaged.
A major electric transformer was also shelled in Rafah, and as a result, the town has been living in the dark till now.
It is worth noting that Wednesday’s night witnessed similar shelling, which caused the killing of eighteen-year-old Muhammad Jalal Qishat, and the injury of eighteen other civilians in the same area.
Al-Mezan Center for human Rights considers this escalation a very dangerous development.
The center calls the international community and institutions to stop the politicization of the Palestinian suffering, and to act immediately in order to provide international protection to Palestinian civilians.
The Israeli violations – as an occupying power- of international law should urge the international community to fulfill their legal and moral obligation toward the Palestinians and their occupied territories.
END
Israeli Forces Open Fire at Palestinian Fishermen in Al Waha
Attacks on Children, Fishermen and Undermining Human Rights:
Israeli Gunboats Attack Fishermen, Arrest Five and Confiscate their Boat West of As-Sudaniya Area
Israeli Gunboats Open Fire at Palestinian Fishermen West of Jabaliya
Israeli Gunboats Open Fire at Palestinian Fishermen West of Jabaliya