Three Palestinian Killed, Including a Baby, and More than 50 Civilians Injured
During Israeli Attacks on Beit Jala, Jericho, Tulkarum, and Khan Younis
In what is becoming a daily occurrence Israeli Forces entered into Palestinian controlled
“A” areas around Beit Jala yesterday. Civilian neighborhoods in Beit Jala have been subject
to intensive Israeli shelling and shooting throughout the Intifada, and many families have been
forced to move. During yesterdays attack one Palestinian was killed and at least twenty
were injured.
At approximately 8:00 am yesterday morning Israeli forces supported by armored personnel carriers and tanks entered approximately 500 meters into Palestinian controlled
territory near the city of Beit Jala in the Bethlehem District. The area taken over is located
on the Talitha Kumi neighborhood on the edge of the town. The incursion followed
exchanges of fire between Palestinian gunmen and Israeli forces during the night. Several
buildings were completely destroyed and many others were severely damaged by
shelling, which continued throughout the seven-hour occupation. Israeli forces also occupied two
buildings causing extensive damage. All of the buildings that were either damaged or
destroyed were civilian homes. No warning was given prior to the attack upon these civilian
targets.
Israeli forces killed Mohammad Ibrahim Awad I’bayat, age 47, during the attack. He was
killed when tanks shelled the building in which he was located. I’bayat was on a list of
individuals wanted by the Israeli authorities, and one of the reasons given for the incursion
was that it was known he was in the area. He was the cousin of Hussein Mohammad
Salem I’bayat who was assassinated in Beit Sahour last November. In addition to I’bayat
at least 20 other Palestinians were injured, several seriously. Rawan Zuwahra, age 10, was
struck in the head by shrapnel from a tank shell and lost her eye. Nicola Abu
Ghannam, age 6, was shot and lost his arm. Nicola was fleeing his home, which was being
shelled, with his mother when he was shot.
At around 3:00 pm the Israeli forces withdrew to previously held positions, but have since
stated that they will enter into Palestinian controlled areas again if shooting continues. This is
the first time that Israeli troops have entered into Palestinian controlled areas without the
decision to invade “A” areas being first taken by either the Prime Minister or Cabinet, and
should be viewed as a blatant escalation of the situation. Following the incursion Israeli
Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer stated that officers do not need to seek prior
approval to enter into “A” areas. This sets a dangerous precedent and gives low-level
military officers the power to make decisions that may have enormous political
repercussions.
In another incident Israeli forces bombed the Palestinian Intelligence Headquarters in
Jericho on Saturday. This attack was also carried out without any advanced warning being
given. Additionally, Israeli forces shelled and fired with heavy machineguns upon Palestinian
controlled areas in Tulkarum last night. Information gathered by al-Haq from Palestinian
sources indicates that Israeli forces entered into “A” areas during the attack, although the
Israeli authorities have officially denied these allegations. One Palestinian civilian was killed
during the attack and at least ten were injured.
Finally, Israeli forces shell several neighborhoods in Khan Younis in Gaza today for one
hour beginning at 11:15 am. The targets struck included a school and civilian homes. Four
month old Inam Mohammad Heijo was killed after being struck by shrapnel which entered
her abdomen and exited her back, completely disemboweling her and almost cutting her in
half. Inam was in the arms of her mother, 39 year old Samia Mustafa Heijo, when she was
killed. Her mother and her mother’s family were fleeing their home when a shell exploded in
front of them. Samia and Suzan Mustafa Heijo, age 21, were both stuck by numerous
pieces of shrapnel and are in critical condition. Dunia Mustafa Heijo, age 6 was stuck by
shrapnel in the arm, and Makhmoud Mustafa Heijo, 18 months, was stuck by shrapnel in
the stomach and is in critical condition. At least another 20 civilians including several
children returning home from school were injured during the attack. The Israeli authorities
stated that the attack was carried out in response to shells fired at Gazan settlements earlier
in the day.
Israel continues to act in total disregard of international humanitarian law, international
human rights principles, and the demands of the international community. The international
community should condemn Israel’s repeated shelling of civilian Palestinian areas, and their
invasions into Palestinian autonomous areas in the strongest terms. Al-Haq views with
concern the Israeli aggression against Palestinian civilians, and reiterates the following
demands:
1. The United Nations Security Council should take the necessary measures to
pressure the Israeli Government to stop its excessive use of force and aggression
against Palestinian civilians.
2. Demand that the resolutions passed by the Human Rights Commission be implemented
fully, including the provision calling for the deployment of an international protections force in the Occupied Territories, and press the Security
Council to take action to end Israel’s systematic violation of international
humanitarian law.
3. Send human rights monitors to the Occupied Territories to document abuses
perpetrated by Israeli forces.
4. Immediate action by the States Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to bear
responsibility towards breaches and grave breaches committed against Palestinians in
the Occupied Territories,and to fulfill their legal obligations as High Contracting
Parties of the Fourth Geneva Convention under Article 1 of the Convention that
states that states must act “ to ensure respect for the present Convention in all
circumstances”.