Rafah: 1 injured as no-go zone protests continue

Gaza – Ma'an – A Rafah man was injured during a demonstration against the Israeli-enforced no-go zone along the Gaza-Israel border on Thursday, as the rallies continue to end in bloodshed.

Ziad As-Sarafandi, coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Buffer Zone in Rafah where the demonstration took place, said Israeli troops opened fire on the protesters. The live fire injured one man, he said.

The protests have continued every day for a week, as Gaza residents underline their demand for access to private and agricultural lands subsumed by what Israeli forces call a "combat zone," that was entirely closed off for Gaza civilians.

Individuals entering the area are "considered a threat to the citizens of Israel," an Israeli military spokesman said, and confirmed that soldiers let off warning shots at the group in an attempt to "drive them away from the border."

The spokesman said an investigation into the reported injury was being carried out by the Southern Command office.

On Wednesday, a similar protest east of Gaza City saw warning shots hit a 19-year-old Palestinian in the leg. The young man later died in hospital. Two days earlier four were injured including an international solidarity activist from Malta, when troops opened fire on demonstrators.

As-Sarafandi demanded Israel put a halt to the enforcement of the no-go zone, which eats up 20% of the agricultural land in Gaza, saying that if Israel wanted to enforce a buffer zone, they could do so on the Israeli side of the border.

Israel claimed to have unilaterally pulled out of Gaza in 2005, but retains control of to put pressure on Israel to stop the practices and allow the farmers to reach their lands.

The expanded buffer zone takes up a total of 61 square kilometers of land in the 360 square kilometer area.

Demonstrations, live fire continue in Gaza Buffer Zone

Posted on the ISM webpage: April 29, 2010 

International Solidarity Movement
29 April 2010

Less than 24 hours after the fatal shooting of Ahmad Sliman Salem Dib, over 100 demonstrators gathered in Rafah, Gaza to protest the Buffer Zone. Marching within 100 meters of the border, the non-violent and unarmed demonstrators were faced with live fire from the beginning of the demonstration. As the march progressed, fire was aimed progressively closer and bullets were shot through a banner held by participants. One man was lightly injured in the foot.
Today’s Buffer Zone demonstration was the fourth since Friday. Live ammunition was used as a form of crowd dispersal in all four, killing Ahmad Dib yesterday. Dib, 19, was shot in the leg near Nahal Oz border crossing and died after emergency surgery from blood loss.
More than twenty rounds were fired at Monday’s demonstration in Al Faraheen, east of Khan Younis. On Friday, Palestinians Hind Al Akra (22) and Nidal Al Naji (18), and ISM activist Bianca Zammitt were shot with live ammunition in Maghazi.
Gaza Buffer Zone Background
Regular popular demonstrations are being are held in protest of the arbitrary decision by Israel to instate a 300 metre buffer zone as no-go area for Palestinians where “shoot to kill” policy is implemented. People have been shot regularly as far as 2 kilometres away from the border. Between January 20th 2009 (end of Israel’s war of aggression) and December 31st 2009, 166 Israeli attacks killed 37 persons and injured 69.
The buffer zone effects over 30% of Gaza’s farmland, and also restricts Palestinian fishermen to 3 nautical miles offshore. These restrictions severely impact the Gazan economy, with more than 675,000 (45%) now below the official poverty line and 325,000 (21%) unable to meet basic food needs.

Updated on April 29, 2010

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29-4-2010

Al Mezan

IOF Open Fire on a Peaceful Demonstration in Rafah

At app. 11am on Thursday 29 April 2010, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), which are usually positioned at the eastern separation fence, opened fire on the weekly peaceful demonstration of the 'Popular Campaign against the Buffer Zone'. No casualties or injuries were reported. Demonstrators were few meters away from the eastern separation fence by Ash-Shoka village, east of Rafah, when the IOF opened fire on them

PCHR weekly report 22/4 - 29/4/2010: 1 demonstrator killed, 3 injured including international activist

extracts from PCHR weekly report 22/4 - 29/4/2010:

Thursday, 22 April 2010

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved approximately 500 meters into the east of 'Abasan village, east of Khan Younis. IOF bulldozed and leveled agricultural lands for four hours and fired indiscriminately. At approximately 13:00, IOF moved to the south along the border strip and bulldozed agricultural lands for two hours in Khza'a village. IOF then withdrew inside the border strip. 


Saturday, 24 April 2010 

At approximately 11:30, IOF soldiers who were in their military jeeps in a military site inside the border strip with Israel, east of Central Gaza, fired bullets at participants in a peaceful demonstration organized by the Popular Committee against the Wall as the participants approached the border strip in the east of al-Maghazi refugee camp. As a result, three people, including two women, one of them is an international solidarity activists, were wounded while an old man was shocked. The wounded were transferred to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah for medical treatment.  

The wounded are:

1. Bianica Zamit, 28, a solidarity activist from Malta and a member of the International Soliderity Movement, who was wounded by a bullet in the left thigh;

2. Hend Mohammed Ahmed al-Aqra'a, 23, from al-Zawayda village, who was wounded by a bullet in the abdomen;

3. Nedal Fayez al-Naqleh, 18, who was wounded by a bullet in the right thigh.

4. Suleiman Salem al-Bheiri, 70, who was shocked. 

Hend al-Aqra', who was wounded in the incident, stated to the PCHR fieldworker that she participated with dozens of civilians in the peaceful demonstration that walked to the border strip with Israel in the east of al-Maghazi refugee camp. Participants were carrying slogans and flags and there were not any armed actions in the demonstration. The demonstrators became approximately 200 meters far from the border strip. Some of them walked closer to the border to raise the Palestinian flag but the Israeli soldiers who were in their military jeeps fired heavily at the peaceful demonstration. She said she was wounded and transferred by a civilian car to an ambulance and then to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. It was found out that she was wounded by a bullet in the abdomen. 

 
Sunday, 25 April 2010 

 At approximately 09:30, IOF moved approximately 300 meters into the east of al-Qarara village, east of Khan Younis. For 3 hours, IOF bulldozed and leveled agricultural lands in the area. They fired indiscriminately and withdrew later inside the border strip.

At approximately 011:00, IOF moved into the east of al-Farahin neighborhood in Abasan village, east of Khan Younis. They bulldozed and leveled agricultural lands in the area for approximately 2.5 hours. Then they moved to the south along the border strip and bulldozed and leveled agricultural lands in Khza'a village for four hours. They indiscriminately bombarded the area before their withdrawal inside the border strip. 

  Also at approximately 11:00, IOF positioned in watchtowers near Beit Hanoun "Erez" crossing fired at a group of Palestinian workers who were collecting stones and iron bars from the debris in the industrial zone, southwest of Beit Hanoun crossing. They sporadically fired for 30 minutes forcing the Palestinian workers to flee the area in fear for their lives. No casualties were reported in this incident.

Monday, 26 April 2010

At approximately 24:00, IOF stationed at a military jeep and site inside the border strip, in the east of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, fire at dozens of participants in a peaceful demonstration organized by the Popular Campaign Against the Security Belt in the east of 'Abasan town. The participants were holding the Palestinian flag and posters condemning the security belt; when they were few meters away from the from the said border strip, the Israeli troops fired indiscriminately at them so as to be dispersed. The demonstration was dispersed without injuries.

Tuesday, 27 April 2010

At approximately 11:45, Israeli ground forces, including 30 soldiers, moved approximately 200 meters into the north of the industrial zone, which is in the west of Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, in the northwest of Beit Hanoun town, in the northern Gaza Strip. The Israeli troops fired at a group of Palestinian workers who were collecting stones and iron bars from the debris in the area to force them to flee the area in fear for their lives. At approximately 13:00, the Israeli forces withdrew and no casualties were reported in this incident.

Wednesday, 28 April 2010

According to investigations of PCHR, at approximately 24:00, a peaceful demonstration organized in el-Shaja'eya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City, moving towards the eastern strip, and condemning the security belt along the border line in the east of the city. When the demonstration of 100 persons, including 4 international solidarity activists, reached Nahal 'Oz crossing, at 150 meters away from the borders, some participants stoned the Israeli troops stationed at the borders, as a result, they opened fire towards the participants. The said boy was wounded by a bullet to the right thigh. He was taken to el-Shifa hospital in Gaza City ; however, his death was announced at 16:15 due to his wounds.  

    

Israeli forces kill unarmed demonstrator in Gazan ‘buffer zone’

Posted on the ISM webpage: April 28, 2010

International Solidarity Movement
28 April 2010

Dib undergoing emergency surgery

Ahmad Sliman Salem Dib, 19, died of blood loss at 4:30 pm today, following emergency surgery.
Dib was shot in the leg by an Israeli sniper at a non-violent demonstration, with more than 200 participants, which marched towards the Israeli imposed buffer zone near Nahal Oz crossing with Israel east of Gaza City. Dib was urgently transferred by an ambulance to Shifaa Hospital in the Gaza City, bleeding heavily. The injury proved fatal because the bullet severed the femoral artery, shattered the femur bone, and damaged the surrounding muscle and other tissues.
Regular popular demonstrations are being are held in protest of the arbitrary decision by Israel to instate a 300 metre buffer zone as no-go area for Palestinians where a “shoot to kill” policy is implemented. People have been shot regularly as far as 2 kilometres away from the border.c

British ISM activist and eyewitness Adie Mormech stated: “We were standing next to a gathering of young men behind a large rock, most of whom were chanting and waving flags, about 50 metres from the border fence. Although some of the men were throwing stones from the ground, we didn’t see any reach the fence, let alone go over it. Suddenly to our left, in front of the rock where 10 people had gathered about 30 metres from the fence, there was a single shot without any warning, and a young man was carried away. I could see the bullet had blown apart a large section of the top his leg, with a large amount of blood. He was carried about 100m with blood pouring down his leg before a waiting ambulance drove him away.”
For footage of the shooting, provided by B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights organization, see: http://blip.tv/file/3548946
According to Eva Bartlett, Canadian ISM activist and eye witness: “Israel’s policy of using live ammunition for crowd dispersal is part of its complete disregard for the lives of a million and a half Palestinians living in brutal conditions under the ongoing Israeli siege on Gaza. International observers play a critical role in documenting and potentially deterring Israel’s violence, but are denied access to Gaza.”
British ISM activist Rada Daniell added that “The popular resistance demonstrations will continue up and down the border until Palestinians have access to their most arable farmland, which is effectively annexed by the Israeli imposed 300m buffer zone on the Gazan side, and until the siege is lifted from the Gaza Strip. Bianca, a Maltese international activist who was shot at noon on Saturday in the leg, will rejoin the other internationals regularly attending and reporting on the local initiatives against the buffer zone.”
Dib’s death comes after live ammunition was used at three non-violent Gaza Buffer Zone demonstrations in five days. More than twenty rounds were fired at yesterday’s demonstration in Al Faraheen, east of Khan Younis. On Friday, Palestinians Hind Al Akra (22) and Nidal Al Naji (18), and ISM activist Bianca Zammitt were shot with live ammunition in Maghazi.

Updated on April 28, 2010

Protester critically injured by live Israeli fire at Gaza rally

Gaza – Ma'an – Six people were injured, one seriously, by live fire from Israeli forces as Gaza residents and international solidarity activists gathered in the central Strip on Saturday to protest the enforcement of the no go zone.

Eyewitnesses confirmed early security source reports, saying first three, then six were injured, one seriously as protesters marched with Palestinian flags towards the buffer zone area enforced by Israel around the Gaza border.

"The non-violent rally approached the border area to protest the creation of a buffer zone along the borders between Israel and the Gaza Strip," rally coordinator Mahmoud Az-Ziq said.

Coordinator of medical services in the Gaza Strip Adham Abu Silmiyya said three of the six injured were evacuated to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza, with one man in serious condition.

Coordinator of Beit Hanoun popular committee Saber Az-Za'aneen identified the injured foreign activist as 28-year-old Bianca Zimmit from Malta. He said she was hit by live fire in the foot, and confirmed that she was one of the three evacuated to hospital.

A statement from the International Solidarity Movement said Zimmit was shot while filming the demonstration, at a distance of approximately 80-100 meters.

The statement identified the other two hospitalized victims as Nidal Al Naji, 18, who the group said was shot in the right thigh, and Hind Al-Akra, 22, who was shot in the stomach and has undergone emergency surgery.

An Israeli military spokesman confirmed shots were fired in the area, but said they were "warning shots meant to drive away" the group of protesters. He noted they were "very close" the the border fence, and area he described as a "combat zone."

The no-go area means 20 percent of the arable lands in Gaza are inaccessible to local farmers, who are fired on by Israeli forces patrolling the area if they approach the buffer.

The zone extends 150-300 meters into the Strip from the Green Line, or the 1967 border, from which Israel claimed to have pulled out in 2005.

The military spokesman said troops could "not allow anyone to be present" in the no-go zone, because it was an area "used by terrorists," and cited several cases of Palestinian militant groups planting explosive devices in the zone.

Militant groups say attacks on Israeli patrols in Gaza are defensive, and an effort to protect what by law is sovereign Palestinian territory, but in reality is under Israeli military occupation.

IOF soldiers shoot & wound six Palestinian citizens

[ 24/04/2010 - 10:53 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- Israeli occupation forces (IOF) fired live bullets at Palestinian citizens taking part in a protest demonstration east of Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza Strip on Saturday and wounded six of them. Dr. Muawiya Hassanein, the director of ambulance and emergency in the health ministry, told the PIC that the six citizens suffered various wounds including one in serious condition after he was hit in the chest. He noted that the IOF soldiers opened fire at the protest march against the buffer zone imposed along the Gaza borders with Palestine occupied in 1948, adding that most of the casualties were hit in their lower areas. Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that IOF troops stationed in military watchtowers opened machineguns at the citizens east of Maghazi. Gazans have been organizing similar protest marches over the past week against the buffer zone.

Two Palestinians and an International activist shot with live ammunition at a non-violent demonstration against the Buffer Zone in Gaza

Posted on the ISM webpage: April 24, 2010 

ISM Gaza
24 April 2010

El Maghazi, Deir Al Balah, Gaza, Occupied Palestinian Territories, 24th April 2010, 12PM – At a peaceful nonviolent demonstration against the forceful cessation of farming within what Israel defines as a “buffer zone,” which was attended by 150 people, two Palestinians demonstrators and one International activist were shot. Israeli soldiers opened fire on the demonstrators from the border fence. Nidal Al Naji (18) was shot in the right thigh. Hind Al Akra (22) was shot in the stomach and is undergoing emergency surgery. Bianca Zimmit (28) from Malta was filming the demonstration when she was shot in her left thigh. The wounded are currently being treated in Al Aqsa Hospital.
Shortly after 11 a.m., women and men, including 6 ISM activists, marched from Al Maghazi towards the Israeli fence closing off the Gaza strip. After being met with live ammunition upon cresting a ridge, some demonstrators continued walking forward. This group included six women, two ISM activists and 20 men. The 20 male demonstrators reached the border fence. Zimmit was shot while filming the demonstration between the ridge and the fence, at a distance of roughly 80-100 meters. Hind Al Akra, also standing between the ridge and the fence, was shot in the stomach, and Niadal al Naji was shot in the leg near the fence. Demonstrators carried the wounded back across rough terrain to taxis for transport to Al-Aqsa Hospital.
The demonstrations are held in protest against the arbitrary decision by Israel to instate a 300 metre buffer zone as no-go area for Palestinians where “shoot to kill” policy is implemented. People have been shot regularly as far as 2 kilometres away from the border. Popular Campaign for the Security in the Buffer Zone, an umbrella organization that includes organizations representing farmers and Gaza residents living near the border, and also a number of political parties are present at many of these demonstrations.
Those venturing to the border regions to gather rubble and steel do so as a result of the siege on Gaza which, along with Israel’s 23 day winter war on Gaza, has decimated Gaza’s economy, including 95 percent of Gaza’s factories and businesses, according to the United Nations. Additionally, these recycled construction materials are vital in Gaza where the Israeli-led siege bans all but under 40 items from entering.
The siege prevents vitally needed construction materials from entering Gaza, where over 6,400 houses were destroyed or severely damaged in the Israeli war on Gaza, and nearly 53,000 sustained lesser damages. Hospitals and medical centres, schools, kindergartens and mosques are among the other buildings destroyed and damaged during the Israeli war on Gaza.

Updated on April 24, 2010

PCHR weekly report 15/4 - 21/4/2010: 1 worker injured

extracts from PCHR weekly report 15/4 - 21/4/2010:

 Tuesday, 20 April 2010 

At approximately 07:05, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northwest of Beit Lahia opened fire at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting bricks and construction aggregate from former Israeli settlement areas. As a result, Ahmed Mohammed Jaber, 24, from Beit Lahia, was wounded by two bullets to the feet.

At approximately 11:50, about 150 Palestinian civilians and international solidarity activists and a number of journalists gathered at al-'Atatra intersection in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia, to organize a peaceful protest against the establishment of a buffer zone along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. They traveled in buses that later stopped 700 meters from the border. Some protestors walked towards the border and stopped 100 meters from it. A number of them raised the Palestinian national flag on a hill in the area. At approximately 12:20, Israeli troops stationed at the border fired at the protestors. No casualties were reported. According to Saber al-Za'anin, Coordinator of the Local Initiative, the protest was conducted in the context of weekly peaceful protests organized against the establishment of a buffer zone along the northern and eastern border of the Gaza Strip, which would seize areas of Palestinian land. 

At approximately 22:00, Israeli tanks stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired at least 15 shells at agricultural areas in the east of Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip. No casualties were reported.  

Armored bulldozers invade Gaza strip

military bulldozers attack a strip of land in the buffer zone razing the plants

Gazans fired upon with live rounds at nonviolent demo

Posted on the ISM webpage: April 20, 2010

ISM Gaza

20th April 2010

Israeli army shot several rounds of live ‘warning’ fire at about 150 peaceful protesters who entered the so called ’security belt.’ This belt consists of 300 meters of Palestinian land alongside the borderline. Israelis enforce a no-go ‘rule’ for Palestinians with lethal weapons.

Gazans march for unfettered access to farmlands

As for the Israeli army, they cross to the Palestinian side regularly. Their tanks leave a fresh trail of destruction in the fields upon each incursion.
The demonstration took place at noon, 19th April 2010, in the Nadha border area near the town of Rafah in the south of Gaza Strip. The organisers were the Popular Campaign Against the Buffer Zone, a coalition of people living and farming in a buffer zones across Gaza and a number of political parties and civil society organizations.
A group of about 20 local women, some carrying pictures of their family members in Israeli jails and local residents, joined the march. This area has been exposed to the extreme violence over the years resulting in loss of lives and destruction of property. Several local men talked about family members killed by Israelis and the injuries they themselves sustained.
They marched with the ISM volunteers to about 30 metres from the border, where Israelis placed a barbed wire following the previous demonstration which ended with marchers walking to the border fence and putting several Palestinian flags.
This time they were met with repeated bursts of fire lasting altogether for about 10 minutes.
At the other side near the Israeli observation tower, the two army jeeps which where there when the demonstrators arrived with the ‘hammer’ positioned couple of hundred metres away, were joined by another five jeeps with soldiers being positioned inside and outside their vehicles.
Fortunately nobody was hurt.

Updated on April 21, 2010

Israel opens fire on a peaceful demonstration

Tuesday, 06 April 2010 13:14 Added by PT Editor Omar Ghraieb 

 

Gaza, April 6, (Pal Telegraph) Israeli soldiers opened fire on a peaceful march, organized by the Popular Campaign against the security zone, in Atatra in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip; they marched to condemn the imposition of Israel's security buffer zone along the border with the Gaza Strip.
Mahmoud Zak, the coordinator of the campaign, said that hundreds of local youths and foreign demonstrators arrived to the wired border the separates between Gaza and the territory of 1948 and raised Palestinian flags, then they were shocked after seeing dozens of Israeli soldiers who got out of jeeps and started firing in all directions in a very dangerous and random way.
He indicated that Israeli Special Forces attacked the demonstrators in more than one direction after they reached wired wall and placed Palestinian flags on it.
"We are trying to withdraw from the region and now here we are at a distance of 100 meters,” he said. Noting that placing Palestinian flags on the wired wall is what provoked Israeli soldiers, stressing that, "the flag of Palestine flies on the wired wall to declare our right of freedom”.

Gaza protesters raise flags on no-go zone

 

Published yesterday (updated) 06/04/2010 20:02

 

Gaza – Ma'an – Gaza residents marched toward Israel's no-gozone on Tuesday, in protest of the confiscation of 20% of the Strip's farming lands inside the buffer.

Marchers proceeded from Al-Atatra, a Beit Lahiya neighborhood in the northern Gaza Strip, toward the border area to plant flags on Palestinian lands.

Popular Resistance Campaign coordinator Mahmoud Az-Ziq said hundreds of local men and international solidarity activists marched toward the no-go zone, raising Palestinian flags at the barbed-wire fence sectioning off the area. Dozens of Israeli soldiers, he said, fired warning shots in "all directions."

"These rallies show how adamant we are to regain access to agricultural lands along the border area. Non-violent rallies will continue, no matter what danger we will face," Az-Ziq added.

Beit Hanoun Popular Initiative coordinator Sabir Za'nin said Israeli soldiers in black uniforms "surprised" protesters at the rally by opening fire, in spite of the presence of international activists.

An Israeli military spokesman confirmed that warning shots were fired in the air, approximately 250 meters from the barbed-wire fencing, where Palestinian movement is restricted.

Gaza residents commemorate Land Day at Nahal Oz border crossing

ISM Gaza
30 March 2010
Palestinians in Gaza came out in large numbers for demonstrations commemorating Land Day, including one at Nahal Oz border crossing, east of Gaza City. In attendance were around 300 Palestinians and three ISM members. Unlike other demonstrations on Tuesday, no injuries were reported. However, several demonstrators reported nearly being hit with “warning shots” of live ammunition.
As Palestinian and international demonstrators approached the Nahal Oz border, they were met by Israeli military waiting on the other side of the crossing. Activists, including a large group of women, carried banners condemning the Occupation and the Siege on Gaza. The group paused about 300 meters away from the border, where speeches were made about the significance of Land Day. As the demonstration progressed, two jeeps, two tanks and two vehicles used for soldier transport arrived. Five soldiers in firing positions were visible outside the vehicles.
A group of over 100 young people advanced further to about 150 meters form the border where they stopped and chanted anti-Occupation and anti-Siege slogans. A smaller group of about 50 youth continued across the ‘buffer zone’ towards the border fence waving Palestinian flags.
Israeli forces responded by firing over 30 live bullets over a period of about half an hour. Even though these were “warning shots,” usually fired high in the air by the military, many bullets came uncomfortably close to the demonstrators. One journalist who stayed away from the front lines of the demonstration reported nearly being hit in the head with one of these live bullets.
The demonstration was one of six across Gaza organized by the Popular Campaign for the Security in the Buffer Zone, an umbrella organization that includes organizations representing farmers and Gaza residents living near the border, and also a number of political parties.

Updated on April 1, 2010

PCHR weekly report 25/3 - 31/3/10: 1 Palestinian civilian killed, 12 injured at border zone

extracts from PCHR weekly report 25/3 - 31/3/10:

Thursday, 25 March 2010 

 At approximately 08:00, Israeli troops stationed at Sofa crossing, southeast of Khan Yunis, fired at a number of Palestinian civilians who were collecting aggregate, approximately 150 meters from the crossing. As a result, Naji Suleiman Abu Raida, 34, was wounded by a gunshot to the right thigh. 

 At approximately 13:30, Israeli troops stationed on observation towers at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip fired at Sa'id 'Abdul 'Aziz Hamdan, 15, from Beit Hanoun, when approached an area 100 meters from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. He was wounded by a gunshot to the left foot. According to the child, he had gone to the area to look for his brothers who were collecting construction aggregate from the debris of destroyed buildings. After he was wounded, he managed to approach a number of workers located approximately 100 meters from him. They evacuated him to a hospital in Beit Lahia on an animal cart. 


Friday, 26 March 2010 

At approximately 14:30, an IOF infantry unit moved approximately 500 meters intro 'Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis city, in the southern Gaza Strip. A number of activists of the Palestinian resistance clashed with Israeli troops. Later, Israeli tanks, supported by warplanes, moved into the area. They opened fire at houses and agricultural areas as a number of civilians and journalists gathered in the area to observe the events. At approximately 16:45, IOF moved back to the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, but continued to fire at the area. At approximately 17:00, as there were reports that a number of people were wounded in the area, Haitham 'Abdul Hakim 'Aaref 'Arafat, 21, and 3 of his friends come to the area to search for wounded people, who they thought might include his brother, 20-year-old Suliman. Soon, Israeli troops fired at them, wounding 'Arafat and 18-year-old 'Abed Rabbu 'Abdullah Abu 'Anza. The latter was wounded by a gunshot to the shoulder and was able to leave the area. 'Arafat remained in the area, bleeding. A number of people attempted to reach him to evacuate him to the hospital, but Israeli troops fired at them. As a result, Fadi Mohammed Abu Hajras, 20, was wounded by a gunshot to the foot. Later, residents were able to evacuate 'Arafat to the hospital. He was seriously wounded by shrapnel. Medical efforts to save his life failed and he was pronounced dead at approximately 22:00. As a result of the indiscriminate Israeli gunfire and shelling, an additional 4 Palestinian civilians were wounded:

1. Nassim Jawad Abu Daqqa, 13, seriously wounded by a gunshot to the back, which damaged the spinal column and the spleen, when he was near his house;

2. Ra'ed Mohammed Abu Tu'aima, 35, lightly wounded by shrapnel to the head and the limbs when he was near his house;

3. Hassam Mohammed Abu Raida, 21, wounded by a gunshot to the shoulder; and

4. Bassam Burhom al-Daghma, 22, lightly wounded by shrapnel. 

At approximately 21:30, IOF moved into the area again. This incursion continued until the early morning of the following day, during which time IOF demolished a house and razed 31 donums of agricultural land:

1. IOF demolished a 330-square-meter, two-storey uninhabited house belonging to Hashem Ibrahim al-Daghma;

2. They demolished an egging facility belonging to Majed Abu Samra;

3. They razed a 13-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables and wheat belonging to Salem 'Atiya Abu Daqqa;

4. They razed a one-donum area of agricultural land planted with parsleys belonging to Ibrahim Salman Qudaih;

5. They razed a 15-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables and wheat belonging to Nidal Isma'il Abu Daqqa; and

6. They demolished a two-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables belonging to 'Obaida Mohammed Qaudaih. 

At approximately 18:00 on Sunday, 28 March 2010, medical crews found the body of Suleiman 'Abdul Hakim 'Arafat, 20, a member of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad), after IOF allowed them to enter the area where armed clashes had taken place on Friday. Suleiman was the brother of Haitham 'Arafat, who was killed by IOF while searching for Suleiman. 

Sunday, 28 March 2010

At approximately 08:00, IOF moved approximately 600 meters into 'Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis. They leveled area of Palestinian land, which they had previously razed. They withdrew from the area at approximately 14:00. 

Monday, 29 March 2010

At approximately 10:30, IOF moved approximately 400 meters into the east of al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. They leveled areas of land, which they had already razed.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 

At approximately 11:30, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, to the east of al-Maghazi refugee camp, opened fire at a peaceful demonstration organized by the Public Committee against the Security Fence established by IOF along the border, when a number of young men got as close as two meters to the border. As a result, Mohammed Hani al-Atayi, 21, from Deir al-Balah, was wounded by a gunshot to the right leg. 

At approximately 12:00, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Khan Yunis, fired at hundreds of Palestinian civilians who were participating in a peaceful demonstration near the border. As a result, 3 civilians, including a child, were wounded:

1. Jom'a Ramadan al-Najjar, 22, wounded by a gunshot to the head;

2. Walaa' Farid al-Najjar, 19, wounded by a gunshot to the left thigh; and

3. Hani Riad al-Najjar, 17, wounded by a gunshot to the left leg and shrapnel to the right leg. 

Wednesday, 31 March 2010  

· At approximately 08:45, Israeli troops stationed on observation towers at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting bricks and iron bars from destroyed buildings in the industrial zone, south of the crossing. The workers fled and no casualties were reported. 

· At approximately 09:30, IOF moved approximately 300 meters into the east of al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. They leveled areas of Palestinian land, which they had already razed. They withdrew from the area at approximately 13:00.