Another farmer injured by Israeli army whilst working in his field

On Friday 5^th June 2009, Khaled Ismail Mohammed Jahjuh was shot in his lower spine by the Israeli army as he was leaving his fields in the village of Shoka in Rafah.

Khaled had been working in his fields which are located 1.5 kilometers from the Israeli border, together with his seven year old son Ahmed, since the early morning. At around 10 am they loaded the crops on their jeep and as soon as they started to drive an explosive bullet measuring 800 millimeters, was shot which entered the jeep through the left side door, passed through the driver's seat and entered Khaled's body. Families living in Shoka witnessed the incident and reported seeing an Israeli army hammer shoot. The bullet has damaged Khaled's nerve system leaving him with a dropped foot and unable to walk. The exit wound on his back is too large to be closed. He will require a year and a half to recover if the operations are successful. His 7 years old son Ahmed is now suffering from psychological problems.

Khaled's field used to consist of 225 trees ranging from oranges to olives. During the massacre on Gaza earlier this year, the Israeli Army entered Rafah and destroyed most of these trees. Only 10 trees were spared. Khaled is the 18^th person to be injured whilst working in fields close to the border (in addition to 3 Palestinians killed) since the end of the massacre in Gaza which ISM is aware of.

Several farmers have been shot by Israeli forces while farming their lands.

· 5 June 2009, Shoka, Rafah: Khaled Ismail Mohammed Jahjuh was shot in his lower spine by the Israeli army

· 3 June 2009, Beit Hanoun: 'Ali Mohammed al-Zummara, 65, injured by shrapnel in the back.

· 3 June 2009, Beit Hanoun: Saleh Mohammed al-Zummara, 66, injured by a gunshot to the left hand

· 3 June 2009, Bedouin village 'Um An-Nassir': Ahmed Tawfiq Abu Hashish, 17, injured by shrapnel to the left shoulder and foot.

· 3 June 2009, Bedouin village 'Um An-Nassir': Saleh Ahmed al-Madani, 17, seriously injured by shrapnel to the neck and the left shoulder

· 20 May 2009, Beit Hanoun: Ziad Salem abu Hadayid, 23, was shot in his legs with live ammunition by Israeli forces.

· 7 May 2009, Rafah: Randa Shaloof, 32, was shot in her hand and chest with live ammunition by Israeli forces.

· 3 May 2009, Beit Hanoun: Mohamed Harb Shamia, 12, was injured in his leg and abducted by Israeli forces.

· 3 May 2009, East of Jabalya: 30-year-old Mona Selmi As-Sawarka was injured by shrapnel wounds to her chest

· 2 May 2009, Khoza'a: Nafith Abu T'eima, 35, injured in his neck by shrapnel from Israeli forces.

· 10 March 2009, al-Maghazi refugee camp: Muhannad Sehi Abu Mandil, 24, was shot in the left foot with live ammunition by Israeli forces.

· 24 February 2009, Khoza'a: Wafa Al Najar, 17, was shot in the kneecap with live ammuntion by Israeli forces.

· 18 February 2009, Al Faraheen: Mohammad al-Ibrim, 20, was shot in the right leg with live ammunition by Israeli forces.

· 14 February 2009, Jabaliya: Hammad Barrak Salem Silmiya, 13, was killed when Israeli forces shot him in the head with live ammunition.

· 27 January 2009, Al Faraheen: Anwar al Ibrim, 27, was killed when Israeli forces shot him in the neck with live ammunition.

· 27 January 2009, east of Deir Al Balah: Mohammed Salama al-Ma'ni, 21, was wounded by a gunshot to the left thigh.

· 25 January 2009, Khoza'a: Subhi Tafesh Qudaih, 55, was wounded by a gunshot to the back

· 23 January 2009, Khoza'a: Nabeel Ibrahim al-Najjar, 40, was wounded by shrapnel from a gunshot to the left hand by Israeli forces.

· 22 January 2009, Sheyjaiee: 7 year old Ahmed Hassanian shot in the head

· 20 January 2009, al-Qarara: Israeli soldiers shot Waleed al-Astal, 42, in his right foot.

· 18 January 2009, Khoza'a:Maher 'Abdul 'Azim Abu Rjaila, 23, was killed when Israeli forces shot him in the chest with live ammunition.

ISM Gaza Strip

Photos: Shadi Slman