Israeli Forces Penetrate the Town of Bait Lahia Killing One Person and Arresting Others

At approximately 3:30 A.
M.
Thursday 8 August 2002, Israeli forces reentered the town of Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, less than 24 hours after withdrawing from it the day before.
Israeli Occupation Forces killed one Palestinian, wounded another, detained a number of other people, and damaged private property during this incursion.
Eyewitnesses told Mezan fieldworkers that at 2:30 the night before approximately 30 Israeli tanks and two military bulldozers entered the town from the settlements of Nitzanit and Ilai Sinai.
They entered the areas of Ash-Shaimaa and Fad’us north of the town and opening fire on them.
IOF forces stationed themselves in the Shaimaa School before launching a house-to-house search in the area using police dogs.
Soldiers broke into the houses of Abdul Qadir Ahmad al-Masri, Issam al-Kilani, Shaaban al-Masri, Attalah Mahmud Qasim, Atyeh Mahmud Qasim, Riziq Muhammad al-Bili, and Mahmud al-Hilu.
Furniture in three of the homes was damaged in the process and four persons were arrested: Wisam Riziq Muhammad al-Bili, Mustafa Muhammad al-Hilu, Abid Fadil al-Hilu and Ayman al-Hilu.
Tanks left the area at 8:30am on 8 August 2002 stationing troops at points around it.
Thirty minutes later IOF forces reentered the town and a Bedouin village opposite it for the second time opening fire on and killing Adil Riziq Ghabin, aged 22, by firing a bullet into his head.
Five others were wounded: Shadi Mahmud Abu Jarad, age 14, injured from a live bullet in the left foot, Rami Jabir al-Kasih, age 20, injured from a live bullet in the foot, Abid Saadi Zayid, age 27, injured from a live bullet in the right foot, Mahmud Rajab Muhammad Isbaih, age 16, injured from a live bullet in the left foot, and Amin Hani Zuhd, age 15, injured from a live bullet in the right hand.
Al Mezan fieldworkers reported that soldiers arrested four persons from the Bedouin village after breaking into their homes: Ibrahim Abu Hwishil, Muhammad ash-Shrafi, Abdullah ash-Shrafi and Naji Abbas.
IOF forces withdrew from the area at 10:30 am, 8 August 2002.
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights condemns the Israeli forces continued aggression against the Palestinian civilians and their property in the OPTs.
The Center is concerned for the demolition of civil premises and the losses among Palestinian civilians.
Al Mezan calls upon the international community, especially the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to intervene immediately on behalf of the Palestinian people.
END