PCHR weekly report 23-29/12/2009: 3 Palestinian civilians killed by Israeli missile

extracts from PCHR weekly report No. 51/2009 23- 29 Dec 2009

Saturday, 26 December 2009 

At approximately 00:30, Israeli troops stationed at observation towards along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north of Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of Palestinians who got close to the border.  The Israeli gunfire lasted for approximately 20 minutes, after which an Israeli aircraft fired a missile at the Palestinians.  As a result, 3 Palestinians were killed:

1.    Basheer Suleiman Mousa Abu Duhail, 20;

2.     Mahmoud Jom'a Ibrahim al-Sharat'ha, 19; and

3.    Hani Salem Mohammed Abu Ghazal, 20.  

The victims are all from al-Nasser village (the Bedouin Village) to the north of Beit Lahia.  They were unarmed and were apparently attempting to infiltrate into Israel to search for jobs.  A fourth Palestinian survived the attack. Israeli occupation forces did not allow medical crews to enter the area to evacuate the bodies until approximately 15:00.  Eventually, medical crews were allowed to enter the area and evacuate the bodies at approximately 16:15.

Monday, 28 December 2009  

At approximately 10:45, Israeli occupation forces moved into 150 meters into the north of Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip.  They leveled area of Palestinian land, which they had already razed.