Al Mezan Condemns the Israeli Forces’ Continued Collective Punishment of Palestinian Civilians in the OPT

The Israeli occupation forces resumed their practice of collective punishment and the use of excessive and lethal force against the Palestinian population of the OPT.
Today, 4 August 2002, at dawn, these forces murdered Muhammad Yihia Insaiw, age 22, from ash-Shati refugee camp, Gaza.
Israeli sources claimed that Insaiw was killed at sea, whilst trying to infiltrate an Israeli settlement north of the Gaza Strip.
Al Mezan fieldworkers reported that Israeli bulldozers have demolished several homes and other premises in the north of Beit Lahia, north of Gaza.
They demolished a two-storey-home owned by Zuhair Ahil, a two-storey-home owned by Nasir Ghazal, a three-storey café owned by Ja’al al-Halul, together with the North Gaza Headquarters of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in North Gaza district, occupying an area of three dunams[1]and the building of General Security Training, which occupies and area of five dunams.
These forces continued the closure of the Al Mawasi area in Rafah and Khan Yunis.
Four Palestinians, Mazin Basaleh, Fadil Shaluf, Azzam Shaluf and Jihad ash-Shaikh Ali, were detained in the area on Saturday 3 August 2002.
Eye-witnesses said that the four persons were tied and kept under the sun between 8 A.
M.
and 5 P.
M.
In the West Bank, the Israeli forces demolished seven homes, all owned by relatives and families of Palestinians suspected of having taken part in military action against Israel.
Meanwhile, the Israeli forces continued to impose curfew on the major towns in the West Bank.
Al Mezan Center for Human rights views with skepticism the Israeli claim that Insaiw was trying to enter a settlement, since the Israeli forces frequently seek to justify the killing of Palestinians by security claims.
Al Mezan also condemns the Israeli forces’ orders of deportation of two Palestinians from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip.
The two persons are relatives of Palestinians who are wanted by  these forces for carrying military action against them.
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights is concerned for the continued Israeli collective punishment of Palestinians civilians, targeting their lives with excessive and lethal forces and destroying their property.
Such acts constitute Grave Breaches of the international humanitarian law, particu;arly the Fourth Geneva Convention, necessitating bringing those who ordered and perpetrated them to justice.
As such, the Center condemns all the Israeli crimes in the OPTs, which had been prompted by the international community’s silence.
The international community’s role in this regard is questionable and lack credibility.
Al Mezan calls for immediate international protection as a first step to end the illegal Israeli occupation of the OPTs.
[1] One dunam corresponds to 1,000 square meters in the international system.
END