PCHR weekly report 20-26/8/2009: 1 child killed , 3 Palestinians injured in farmlands close to the green line

excerpt from PCHR weekly report No. 34/2009 20 - 26 August 2009

Friday, 21 August 2009

At approximately 09:00, Israeli forces moved nearly 200 meters into al-Farrahin area in the east of 'Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis. They leveled areas of land they had already razed. Later, they moved towards Khuza'a village and al-Fukhari areas and leveled areas of land there. This incursion continued until 18:00.

Saturday, 22 August 2009

At approximately 11:45, Murad Salman al-Wazir, 17, from Sheikh Zayed housing project in Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip, was admitted into Beit Hanoun Hospital as he was wounded by a gunshot to the left leg after being shot by Israeli troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. The child was at least 900 meters away from the border when he was shot.

Sunday, 23 August 2009

At approximately 17:45, Israeli forces positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Beir Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian houses and farmers. As a result, Fawzi 'Ali Qassem, 63, was wounded by a gunshot to the left thigh, when he was on his land which is located at least 1,800 meters away from, the border.

Monday, 24 August 2009

At approximately 15:15, Israeli troops positioned to the northwest of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip (along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel) fired at two Palestinian civilians from Beit Lahia who got close to the border. Sa’id ‘Ata al-Hussumi, 16, was instantly killed by two bullets to the chest, and Mas’oud Mohammed Tanboura, 19, was seriously wounded by several bullets to the chest. Al-Husumi and Tanboura were working in a farm in Beit Lahia town, approximately 350 meters away from the border fence. They attempted to get close to the border to find metal wires to sell them. They were unarmed.

Israel has illegally prohibited movement near the border fence in the north and in the east of the Gaza Strip. The prohibition applies to within a distance of 300 meters from the border fence inside the Gaza Strip. Accordingly, Palestinian farmers are denied access to their lands. Thus, they are denied their right to cultivate these lands or even to approach them. In many cases, Palestinians come under Israeli gunfire from distances that exceed 300 meters. PCHR has documented many deaths, including children, as a result of Israeli forces firing at civilians while in the proximity of these areas.

At least 4 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip

Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)
25 August 2009
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns attacks perpetrated by Israeli forces in the evening of 24 August, and the morning of 25 August 2009. Three Palestinians were killed while a fourth is missing consequent to Israeli gunfire in the northern Gaza Strip and aerial bombardment along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. .
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 15:15 on Monday, 24 August 2009, Israeli troops positioned to the northwest of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip (along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel) fired at two Palestinian civilians from Beit Lahia who got close to the border. Sa’id ‘Ata al-Hussumi, 16, was instantly killed by two bullets to the chest, and Mas’oud Mohammed Tanboura, 19, was seriously wounded by several bullets to the chest.
Al-Husumi and Tanboura were working in a farm in Beit Lahia town, approximately 350 meters away from the border fence. They attempted to get close to the border to find metal wires to sell them. They were unarmed.
Israel has illegally prohibited movement near the border fence in the north and in the east of the Gaza Strip. The prohibition applies to within a distance of 300 meters from the border fence inside the Gaza Strip. Accordingly, Palestinian farmers are denied access to their lands. Thus, they are denied their right to cultivate these lands or even to approach them. In many cases, Palestinians come under Israeli gunfire from distances that exceed 300 meters. PCHR has documented many deaths, including children, as a result of Israeli forces firing at civilians while in the proximity of these areas.
In the early morning of Tuesday, 25 August 2009, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a tunnel near the Salah al-Din Gate in the south of Rafah town on the Palestinian-Egyptian border. Two brothers, Mansour ‘Ali al-Batniji, 30, and Na’el ‘Ali al-Batniji , 20, were killed, and their other brother, Ibrahim, 35, is missing. Another 6 Palestinians were also wounded.
PCHR strongly condemns such escalation by Israeli forces, and:
1. Reiterates its condemnation of such crimes which are part of a series of war crimes committed by Israeli forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
2. Calls upon the international community to immediately intervene to stop such crimes, and renews its call for the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations.
Updated on August 25, 2009

Palestinian killed, child seriously wounded by military fire in northern Gaza

Tuesday August 25, 2009 01:54 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian medical sources in Beit Lahia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip reported on Monday at night that a Palestinian resident was killed and a 15-year old child was seriously wounded by Israeli military fired in Al Atatra area near Beit Lahia.

File - Image; Palestine-Info

The sources stated that Sa’id Ata Al Hasoumy bled to death as the army barred Palestinian ambulances from reaching him.

The sources added that a 15-year old child was seriously injured in the same attack and was moved to a local hospital later on.

The army admitted that it remains unclear whether the slain Palestinian was armed, but said that “the area where he was seen is a closed military zone.

Palestinian resistance in Gaza retaliated by firing two homemade shells at Ashkelon. Israeli military sources reported that one soldier was mildly wounded when a shell fragmentation hit him in the head.

The shell landed and detonated near the so-called Hof Ashkelon Regional Council. The soldier was moved to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon.

On Sunday evening, one Palestinian farmer was wounded on Sunday evening in a similar Israeli military attack.

Israeli forces kill Gazan man

Published yesterday (updated) 24/08/2009 21:26

Gaza – Ma'an – Israeli forces shot two Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip on Monday afternoon, killing one of them.

The shooting took place in the Al-Atatra area north of the town of Beit Lahiya.

Mu’awiya Hassanein the head of Ambulance and Emergency Services in the Palestinian Health Ministry said that one critically injured man was taken in an ambulance to Kamal Udwan Hospital in northern Gaza.

Ambulances were unable to immediately reach the other man who lay on the ground bleeding and eventually died. Hassanein identified him as Ata Al-Hasoumi, 20. Medics told Reuters that the man was a farmer.

Israeli military sources told reporters that two “suspicious” people had approached the border with Israel and ignored warning shots.

Meanwhile, Israeli sources said that two projectiles were fired from the northern Gaza Strip into Israel. According to the news website Ynet, the projectiles landed near the Ashkelon Beach Regional Council. The same report states that one soldier was mildly wounded after sustaining a head injury while running for cover.

It is unclear whether the projectiles were homemade "Al-Qassam" rockets, or mortar shells. No Palestinian group has claimed responsibility for the reported attack, which was the first in two weeks.

-----------------------------------------------------
24-8-2009

Al Mezan

IOF kill a Palestinian Child near the Separation Fence North Beit Lahia

At approximately 4:30pm on Monday 24 August 2009, IOF opened fire at two Palestinians who were near the separation fence north As-Syafa area northwest Beit Lahia. Said A'ta Mohammed Al-Hasomi, 16, was killed and Mas'oud Mohammed Jamil Tambora, 19, was injured. According to medical sources at Kamal Odwan Hospital, Tambora's condition is critical.
According to field investigations, residents of that area were able to transport Tambora to Kamal Odwan Hospital while they were not able to reach Al Hasomi.
IOF prevented ambulances from reaching the area. At approximately 7:40pm on the same day, a Palestinian ambulance collected Tamora's dead body at Erez crossing.

IOF Open Fire at Palestinian Farmers East of Biet Hanoun

23-8-2009

Al Mezan

At approximately 6:00pm on Sunday 23 August 2009, IOF positioned at the separation fence east Biet Hanoun opened fire at Palestinian farmers who were in their farms at An-Nazaz area east of Biet Hanoun, one kilometer away from the separation fence. Fawzi Al Kfarna, 63, was injured in the right thigh. Medical sources at Beit Hanoun Hospital sources described his wounds as moderate.

Palestinian Injured by IOF in Deir Al-Balah

Date : 20/8/2009 Time : 20:25

---

Deir Al-Balah, August 20, 2009 (WAFA)- A Palestinian citizen was injured, this morning, by Israeli gunfire, in Deir Al-Balah city in the center of the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian medical sources told WAFA that a number of Israeli military vehicles accompanied by special forces have attacked the city from the eastern side and opened heavy fire randomly, injuring one citizen.

IOF had, yesterday, injured a woman and her child in Johr Al-Deek area east of Al-Breij Refugee Camp.

IOF troops advance into eastern Gaza amidst indiscriminate fire

[ 18/08/2009 - 04:34 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Tuesday advanced into eastern Gaza city amidst indiscriminate shooting but no casualties were reported, local sources told the PIC reporter. They added that four IOF tanks escorting four bulldozers advanced about 300 meters into Juhr Al-Deek southeast of Gaza city while opening intensive fire at residential neighborhoods. The sources said that the bulldozers damaged cultivated land lots before withdrawing form the area. In the West Bank, IOF soldiers rounded up four citizens at dawn Tuesday.

Israeli forces destroy agricultural land in southern Gaza Strip's Khan Younis while opening fire

16.08.09 - 12:37

Gaza / PNN – The Israeli military occupying the border regions of the Gaza Strip incurred this morning into the outskirts of Khan Younis.

Official Palestinian sources and eyewitnesses report that the southern Gaza Strip city was hit early Sunday.

A number of Israeli tanks and bulldozers invaded eastern Khan Younis and began razing agricultural land amid sporadic shooting.

The Nasser Salah Addin Brigades, the armed resistance wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, issued a statement saying that it responded by detonating an explosive device and throwing a hand grenade toward the Israeli forces.

The Brigades wrote, “This operation comes in response to continued Israeli incursions in the region...”

Israeli forces have incurred nearly daily into the narrow strip of land since the 23 days of major attacks in late December and January that killed approximately 1,400 Palestinians.

PCHR report 6/8-12/8/2009: 3 incursions in Gaza Strip, 60 dunams razed

this is an excerpt from PCHR weekly report No. 32/2009 06 - 12 August 2009

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces conducted 3 limited incursions into Palestinian communities in the Gaza Strip, during which they razed at least 60 donums of Palestinian agricultural land.

Thursday, 06 August 2009

At approximately 07:00, Israeli forces moved nearly 350 meters into al-Shoja'eya neighborhood near al-Mentar (Karni) crossing, east of Gaza City. By 18:00, they had razed at least 60 donums of agricultural land belonging to the family of Jundiya and 'Ayad. A Palestinian farmers told PCHR that Israeli troops positioned along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israeli have denied them access to their lands located in this area.

Sunday, 09 August 2009

At approximately 10:00, Israeli forces moved nearly 300 meters into al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. They leveled areas of Palestinian land, which they had already razed. This incursion continued until 18:00.

Monday, 10 August 2009

At approximately 10:00, Israeli forces moved nearly 200 meters into the north of Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip. They leveled areas of Palestinian land they had already razed. Israeli forces withdrew from the area at approximately 22:15.

Israel: Investigate ‘White Flag' Shootings of Gaza Civilians

Human Rights Watch

Related Materials:

White Flag Deaths

The Israeli military is stonewalling in the face of evidence that its soldiers killed civilians waving white flags in areas it controlled and where there were no Palestinian fighters. These cases need thorough, independent investigations.

Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch

Internal Israeli Military Investigations Inadequate

August 13, 2009

(Jerusalem) - During Israel's recent Gaza offensive, Israeli soldiers unlawfully shot and killed 11 Palestinian civilians, including five women and four children, who were in groups waving white flags to convey their civilian status, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The Israeli military should conduct thorough, credible investigations into these deaths to tackle the prevailing culture of impunity, Human Rights Watch said.

The 63-page report, "White Flag Deaths: Killings of Palestinian Civilians during Operation Cast Lead," is based on field investigations of seven incident sites in Gaza, including ballistic evidence found at the scene, medical records of victims, and lengthy interviews with multiple witnesses - at least three people separately for each incident.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declined repeated Human Rights Watch requests for a meeting to discuss the cases and did not respond to questions submitted in writing.

"The Israeli military is stonewalling in the face of evidence that its soldiers killed civilians waving white flags in areas it controlled and where there were no Palestinian fighters," said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "These cases need thorough, independent investigations."

The 11 civilians killed and at least eight wounded comprise a small fraction of the more than 1,100 Palestinian civilians and combatants killed during what Israel called Operation Cast Lead in December 2008 and January 2009. However, these deaths stand out because the civilians were in groups waving a white cloth, T-shirt, or scarf, and no Palestinian fighters were in the area at the time, Human Rights Watch said.

Israel has repeatedly blamed Hamas for the deaths of Palestinian civilians during the Gaza operation because, Israel says, Hamas fought from populated areas and used civilians as "human shields" - that is, deliberately used civilians to deter attacks against Palestinian forces. Two Israeli commanders have alleged that Palestinian fighters used white flags to shield themselves from attack, but neither provided details to allow an investigation of the claims. The Israeli military turned down requests from Human Rights Watch to discuss the allegations.

In the 11 killings documented in this report, Human Rights Watch found no evidence that the civilian victims were used by Palestinian fighters as human shields or were shot in the crossfire between opposing forces. The civilian victims were in plain view and posed no apparent security threat.

In each of the incidents, the evidence strongly indicates that, at the least, Israeli soldiers failed to take all feasible precautions to distinguish between civilians and combatants before opening fire, as required by the laws of war. At worst, the soldiers deliberately shot at persons known to be civilians.

Under the laws of war, individuals who carry out or order deliberate attacks on civilians are responsible for war crimes.

In one case documented in the report, on January 7 in eastern Jabalya, two women and three children from the family of Khalid ‘Abd Rabbo were standing in front of their home after an Israeli soldier ordered them outside - at least three of them holding pieces of white cloth - when a soldier near a tank opened fire, killing two girls, ages 2 and 7, and wounding the third girl and their grandmother.

"We spent seven to nine minutes waving the flags, and our faces were looking at them [the soldiers]," said the grandmother, who was shot twice. "And suddenly they opened fire and the girls fell to the ground."

Accounts from witnesses, tank tracks, an ammunition box and bullet casings found at the scene, and an examination of the grandmother's wounds by forensic experts indicate that the Israeli soldier fired upon identifiable and unarmed women and children.

In five of the seven incidents detailed in the report, Israeli soldiers shot at civilians who were walking down the street with white flags, trying to leave the areas of fighting.

On January 13 in the village of Khuza'a, an Israeli soldier shot and killed Rawiya al-Najjar, 47, and wounded her relative, Jasmin al-Najjar, 23. The women were walking in a small group on a straight road during daylight, with Rawiya al-Najjar holding a white flag, following Israeli military orders to leave their neighborhood after it had come under Israeli control. Soldiers had occupied a house 230 meters down the street, but apparently fired no warning shots to deter the group as it approached.

The Israeli military announced on July 29 that it was investigating five incidents where Israeli soldiers allegedly killed civilians holding white flags, including at least two of the incidents in the report - the ‘Abd Rabbo and al-Najjar cases. Human Rights Watch expressed hope that Israel would carry out a full and impartial investigation into these incidents, but said that Israel's poor record on investigations made objective probes unlikely.

The military said it was conducting "field investigations" into about 100 incidents altogether involving its alleged violations of the laws of war during the Gaza operation. Field investigations typically consist of asking soldiers to question other soldiers, without seeking or considering testimony from external witnesses, and taking exculpatory claims of soldiers at face value.

As of August 10, for example, no one from the military had contacted members of the ‘Abd Rabbo or al-Najjar families to ask about the deaths of their relatives.

"The Israel Defense Forces have for years permitted a pervasive culture of impunity regarding unlawful Palestinian deaths," Stork said. "Field investigations may serve a useful military purpose, but they are inadequate to determine whether a soldier violated the laws of war, and serve as a pretext that a serious investigation is taking place."

Given the past failure of Israel, as well as Hamas, to investigate their own forces, Human Rights Watch has called for an international investigation into alleged laws-of-war violations by both sides. The United Nations Human Rights Council created a fact-finding mission, headed by Justice Richard Goldstone, which will present its report on abuses by all parties to the Human Rights Council in September.

"The UN investigation has a comprehensive mandate and a professional team," Stork said. "Israel and Hamas, and all UN member states, should seriously consider its recommendations and how to implement them."

Human Rights Watch called on UN member states to establish a dedicated UN mechanism to monitor and report on steps that Israel and Hamas take to conduct transparent and impartial investigations into allegations of serious laws-of-war violations committed during the December-January hostilities in Gaza and Israel, and prosecute those responsible. In the event that Israel and Hamas authorities are unable or unwilling to investigate and prosecute through fair trials those responsible for war crimes, Human Rights Watch said, UN member states should press for international prosecutions.

"White Flag Deaths" is the sixth report Human Rights Watch has issued on abuses by Israel and Palestinian armed groups since Operation Cast Lead began on December 27, 2008. A report released on August 6 documented the unlawful rocket attacks into populated areas in Israel by Hamas and other armed groups.

Also available in:

• العربية
• Hebrew
• Español

IOF troops bulldoze Palestinian cultivated lands

[ 11/08/2009 - 10:32 AM ]

BEIT HANUN, (PIC)-- Israeli occupation forces (IOF) advanced few hundred meters east of Beit Hanun city in northern Gaza Strip late Monday and bulldozed citizens' lands. Local sources told PIC reporter that the IOF troops backed by ten army tanks and bulldozers opened indiscriminate fire at Palestinian residential areas during the process.

Gaza: Cleaning up explosives, mines, and white phosphorus

GAZA CITY, 9 August 2009 (IRIN) - The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has begun removing 600,000 metric tons of rubble and debris left over from Israel's Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip.

More than six months later, the most deadly threat to civilians emanates from unexploded ordnance (UXO) in rubble and underground. Falling rubble and hazardous material, including UXO, have killed 17 and injured at least 25 Palestinians, mostly children, since the operation ended on 18 January, according to UNDP in Gaza.

At least 31 munitions containing white phosphorus have been found. Israel's use of white phosphorus in Gaza was initially denied but was recently acknowledged in an official report but with the claim that it was used only in a manner consistent with relevant international law.

Kerei Ruru, head of the UN Mine Action Team Gaza Office (UNMAT-GO), has been working in Gaza since the end of January to locate and neutralize the UXO.

"Some 4,000 housing units were completely destroyed in the bombardment and UXO risks assessments are conducted on each of the sites," said Ruru.

Most surface contamination was removed by the Gaza authorities, according to UNMAT.

UNMAT is now working to remove UXO buried in thousands of destroyed buildings and in 12,000ha of agricultural land. Ruru's teams are still awaiting permission to access the border areas in the north and east, also a major threat.

Ruru leads five teams operating on the ground in Gaza from British-based NGO Mines Advisory Group (MAG), the implementing partner.

MAG teams located 120 pieces of UXO and 31 unexploded white phosphorous shells in Gaza as of 23 July, said Ruru. As of early June, 28 percent of items discovered contained white phosphorous and 72 percent contained high explosives, according to UNMAT.

After the end of the Israeli operation, UNMAT opened all arterial roads in Gaza, permitting access for humanitarian relief; cleared UXO from 38 UN Children's Fund and government supported schools and four UN Relief and Works Agency schools, industrial and residential areas, and other high-priority buildings, including hospitals and UN facilities.

MAG director Mark Russell has uncovered seven anti-tank mines at one site alone in the Abu Eida area in Jabaliya, where the UNDP will clear rubble.

"Anti-tank mines are used as demolition charges, placed at the base of a structure to level the building, producing a layered effect" said Russell.

Spotting UXO

"The best detection of UXO is done by examining fragmentation from ordnance, entry holes, assessing how much damage the building sustained and eyewitness accounts," said Ruru.

UNMAT also trained UNDP and CHF International NGO rubble removal teams in UXO safety awareness before undertaking rubble removal activities.

The UNDP has found 2,533 sites, all private homes, in addition to 23 public buildings, according to UNDP officer Amran el-Kharouby in Gaza.

The rubble removal project is an essential step to recovery and restoration of services for residents, and aims to safeguard public health and environment and create job opportunities for more than 200,000 Gazans.

UNMAT conducts a risk assessment at each rubble removal site. If the risk is determined to be low, rubble removal continues. If medium, trained members of the rubble removal teams observe potential threats and an UNMAT team remains on call in the area. If the risk is high, UNMAT maintains an UXO team on site daily.

In addition to private homes, hundreds of other targets, including 700 private factories and more than 100 public buildings, were damaged or destroyed during the operation, said El-Kharouby.

Gaza boys wounded by ordinance left by Israeli army

Published today (updated) 05/08/2009 12:09

Gaza – Ma’an – Two Palestinian children were injured on Tuesday evening when ordinance left behind by the Israeli army exploded in Al-Bureij Refugee Camp in the central Gaza Strip.

Palestinian medical sources identified the victims as ten-year-old Khamis Abu Arab and his brother, eight-year-old Muhammad. Khamis, according to the sources, was hospitalized at a specialist eye hospital while Muhammad received treatment for light wounds and was released.

Shots again in Khouza'a

At approximately 7.30 shots were heard again in the area of Khouza'a, east of the city of Khan Younis. According to local farmers, the Israelis were shooting from the tower with remote controlled machine gun. The Israeli occupation forces are almost daily shooting at Gazan farmers trying to push them away from the Green Line and establish a "buffer zone".

www.farmingunderfire.blogspot.com

IOF soldiers bulldoze Palestinian farmlands

[ 04/08/2009 - 10:00 AM ]

BEIT LAHIA, (PIC)-- Israeli occupation forces (IOF) afternoon Monday advanced into northern Gaza Strip and bulldozed Palestinian farmland in Beit Lahia town, security sources said. They told PIC reporter that the IOF soldiers backed by five tanks escorted two bulldozers few hundred meters to the northeast of Beit Lahia. The invading forces opened indiscriminate fire as the bulldozers damaged the cultivated land lots. In the West Bank, Jewish settlers uprooted 30 olive trees in Khader town south of Bethlehem on Monday. Locals said that villagers, who tried to defend their land, were suppressed by IOF troops who used force to disperse them.

IOF forces have entered Gaza Strip

On Tuesday, August 4th, at aproximately 10.30 am, Israeli occupation forces have gathered at the gate of the Green Line fence, in front of the villages of Faraheen and Abassan Jedida, east of the city of Khan Younis. At least two Israeli armoured bulldozers have entered the Gaza Strip. A crane, a big and a small truck are working at the gate. The operation is supported by several jeeps and tanks, behind the Green Line.
The operation is ongoing.

UPDATE: the IOF left Gaza Strip after 5.30 pm. No clashes or damages were reported

www.farmingunderfire.blogspot.com

Agha denounces IOF aggression on farmers and fishermen

[ 02/08/2009 - 10:18 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- Agriculture minister Dr. Mohammed Al-Agha has denounced the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) for repeatedly attacking Palestinian farmers and their farms and fishermen and their boats in northern Gaza Strip. The minister, during a field visit to the northern areas, said that the IOF soldiers lately concentrated on burning crops in the Palestinian lands near the northern borders and shooting at farmers to prevent them from attending to their farms. A ministry press release on Sunday also quoted Agha as condemning the Israeli navy for establishing an isolation zone off the northern coasts along three kilometers prohibiting fishermen from fishing in this area.

Soldiers burn agricultural lands in northern Gaza

Saturday August 01, 2009 21:38 by IMEMC & Agencies

The Ramattan news agency reported Saturday that Israeli soldiers burnt Palestinian agricultural lands belonging to two Palestinian residents, near the Eretz crossing, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

Two Israeli military bulldozers uprooted the farmlands before the soldiers set the uprooted trees and lands of fire.

Local sources reported that soldiers also rounds of live ammunition in different directions causing panic among the residents, no injuries were reported.