PCHR weekly report 21/4 -27/4/2011: 1 Palestinian farmer wounded, 2 incursions, destruction of infrastracture

extracts from PCHR weekly report 21/4 -27/4/2011:

IOF continued to target Palestinian workers, farmers and fishermen in border areas in the Gaza Strip

-A Palestinian farmer was wounded in the northern Gaza Strip

IOF conducted 25 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and two incursions into the Gaza Strip.
- IOF bulldozed eight tin-made stores owned by PADICO.




Thursday, 21 April 2011


At approximately 08:30, IOF moved approximately 200 meters into the southeast of the area adjacent to al-Mentar (Karni) crossing in the east of Shajaeya neighborhood, east of Gaza City. IOF bulldozed eight tin-made stores belonging to Palestine Development and Investment Company (PADICO) which is owned by Palestinian businessman Munib al-Masri and managed by Wadi' Mohammed Shaaban al-Masri, 48. 

The bulldozed stores were built on an area of approximately 4,200 square meters. Four of the stores contained materials, including construction materials, tin and water pumps, for Palestine Industrial Estates Development and Management Company, Gaza (PIEDCO).

Two of the stores were leased by Mohammed Alaa Subhi al-Shurafa, 44, who is the owner of WINPAL, two of them contained diapers, tissue paper and cleaning supplies, while the remaining two stores were leased by Khader Erqayeq and contained iron scrap. IOF withdrew at approximately 12:00 and deployed beyond the border after totally destroying the stores. 

At approximately 18:00, IOF positioned on the border opened fire at Palestinian farmers and shepherds who were in their farms or in the jungle in al-Qutbania area in the southeast of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. Kamel Hassan Abdullah al-Hessi, 46, fron al-Nazleh was wounded by a bullet that entered from beneath the left shoulder and exited from the center of the chest. Al-Hessi was in a farm owned by him and by Jamal Mohammed Halawa. Immediately, Halawa transferred al-Hessi on a motorcycle to Kamal Odwan Martyr Hospital. They arrived at the hospital at approximately 18:55. It was found out the bullet did not hit any of the internal organs, especially the heart, and al-Hessi's wounds were described to be between light and moderate.  

Al-Hessi said that at approximately 15:30, he headed with his sons, Tamer, 22, and Hazem, 18, and with his partner Jamal Halawa to irrigate their land which is located approximately 900 meters far from the border in the east of al-Qutbania area in the southeast of Beit Hanoun. They arrived at their land at approximately 16:00 and started to work in their farm.  At approximately 18:00, IOF positioned on observation towers on the border opened intensive fire from their machine guns at Palestinian shepherds who approached the border. Shepherds and Palestinian farmers who were in their farms fled the area. At approximately 18:20, IOF sporadically fired at the area and al-Hessi, his family and his partner lay down on the ground especially as bullets were flying above them. At approximately 18:30, al-Hessi felt he was wounded and told his partner who transferred him to Kamal Odwan Hospital in Beit Lahia on a motorcycle. After medical examination, it was found out that the bullet was just few millimeters far from the heart. 

Wednesday, 27 April 2011

At approximately 07:30, amid intensive firing, IOF moved approximately 70 meters into the east of Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah. IOF bulldozed and leveled lands along the border and no casualties were reported.

Today the farmers of Beit Hanoun harvested their wheat

26 April 2011 | International Solidarity Movement, Gaza



Today the farmers of Beit Hanoun harvested their wheat. This would be unexceptional news in any other part of the world, but in Palestine things aren’t always so simple. Beit Hanoun is close to the Israeli border, a border where Israel imposes an illegal “buffer zone” in which it claims the right to shoot anyone it wishes. Israel claims the buffer zone is 300 meters wide, but farmers and scrap collectors who work along the border are often shot at at distances up to 1.5 kilometers from the border. The border is lined with massive towers containing guns, sometimes the guns fire, and people die. You won’t read about the dead in the New York Times though, they are Palestinian and their deaths are unremarkable and un-newsworthy.
In honor of the slain Italian activist Vittorio Arrigoni the Local Initiative, the group that organized today’s harvest, had decided to launch the Vittorrio Arrigoni Campaign to Harvest Wheat. Today was its first action. Vittorio had often worked with farmers to plant and harvest their crops along the buffer zone, after his death we continue to harvest in his name, in his memory.
We set out to the fields at about eleven. Loudspeaker, posters, and scythes ready. We parked the van and started to walk to the fields, playing Vittorio’s favorite song, Onadeekum, over the loudspeaker. We reached the field and set to work; kneel, cut, and make a pile of freshly shorn wheat. The field we were working in is about a kilometer from the border, it doesn’t look like much is planted closer to the border than this. It is dangerous to work close to the border. After a few minutes shots ring out. They aren’t aimed at us though, at some other unseen farmer, maybe a poor man trying to collect rocks to make cement which is in critical shortage in Gaza due to the blockade Israel imposes. Back to work we go, the wheat still needs harvesting, and there is nothing to be done about unseen shooting. Perhaps later we will read about the death of somebody in the newspaper, but you can be sure that the New York Times will make no mention of the murder. We didn’t finish harvesting the wheat today, but we will back, we will continue to challenge the illegal buffer zone that Israel imposes on Gaza.

IOF troops enter southern Gaza, bulldoze land

[ 23/04/2011 - 08:58 AM ]

RAFAH, (PIC)-- Israeli occupation forces (IOF) advanced tens of meters into eastern Rafah in the southern area of Gaza Strip on Saturday morning, local sources reported. The sources told the PIC reporter that seven army vehicles including a bulldozer advanced into eastern Rafah and leveled land amidst intermittent firing. The IOF troops routinely enter eastern Gaza border areas and bulldoze land and destroy property.

Four Palestinians wounded in Gaza by IOF fire

[ 22/04/2011 - 07:29 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- Three Palestinians were wounded Friday morning in IOF shelling targeting warehouses near the Mintar crossing to the east of Gaza City, while a farmer was shot and wounded on Thursday evening by IOF troops. Spokesman for the emergency services in Gaza, Adham Abu Selmeyah, said that three Palestinians were wounded when IOF troops fired an artillery bomb towards workers in one of the factories. The wounded men who are in their 30’s and 40’s were taken to the Shifa hospital suffering moderate wounds. A Palestinian farmer was wounded on Thursday to the north of Beit Lahya when IOF troops opened fire at him, his wounds are moderate. The IOF bulldozed on Thursday a number of warehouses in the industrial area near the Mintar crossing. Army Bombards Gaza, Three Injured Friday April 22, 2011 12:27 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies Palestinian medical sources reported on Friday morning that three residents were wounded when the Israeli army fired artillery shells at warehouses that were previously bombarded, near the Karni Commercial terminal, east of Gaza city. Image Palestine-Info Adham Abu Salmiyya, media spokesperson of Emergency Services in Gaza, stated that the three suffered mild-to-moderate wounds, and were moved to Al Shifa Hospital. The three were only identified by their initials while their ages are 48, 41, and 31.They work at a local factory. On Thursday, a Palestinian farmer was moderately wounded after the army fired shells at Palestinian farmlands, north of Beit Lahia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. On Thursday morning, soldiers invaded the industrial area and an area near Al Mintar Crossing, and bulldozed several areas in the Industrial Zone and the Karni terminal. The bulldozed areas also include the warehouse that was bombarded on Friday morning.

Medics: 3 injured as Israeli tanks shell Gaza

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Three Palestinians were injured Friday in Israeli tank shelling east of Gaza City, medics said.

Palestinian medics said three factory workers sustained multiple injuries in Ash-Shuja'iyeh and were transferred to the Ash-Shifa Hospital.

An Israeli military spokesman said no tanks had opened fire in the area on Friday.

On Thursday, the Israeli army entered Gaza and demolished several buildings near the northern Karni crossing. The military said the buildings were used by "terrorist organizations," but Palestinians said they were warehouses holding goods which had entered through the crossing.

Witnesses said the buildings contained assorted equipment, children's diapers, scrap metal and cleaning detergent. The goods were damaged during the destruction of the warehouses.

The operation also damaged a room holding the electrical generators for the industrial zone near the Karni crossing, they said.

AFP contributed to this report

Medics: Farmer shot in northern Gaza

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- A farmer was hospitalized Thursday after Israeli soldiers shot him as he worked on his land in northern Gaza, medics said.

The 45-year-old man was shot in his stomach in the Abu Safieyah area of Beit Lahiya and transferred to the Kamal Adwan Hospital, medical services spokesman Adham Abu Salmiya said.

Abu Salmiya added that Israeli soldiers opened fire on residents of Beit Lahiya almost daily.

Israel unilaterally imposes a no-go zone along the border inside the Gaza Strip, and soldiers frequently shoot at Palestinians inside the area.

In Oxfam's latest report, the international organization said "In practice, Israel restricts access to agricultural land up to 1,000-1,500 metres from the fence, which accounts for more than 30% of Gaza's agricultural land and a significant number of water wells. Most of the Gaza Strip's animal production is also concentrated in this area."

PCHR weekly report 14/4 - 20/4/2011: 1 civilian killed of previous wounds, airstrike, destruction of infrastracture

extracts from PCHR weekly report 14/4 - 20/4/2011:

A Palestinian civilian from the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah died of his wounds. 

IOF bombarded a training site of the Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, and a nearby school and to residential houses were damaged.


IOF continued to target Palestinian workers, farmers and fishermen in border areas in the Gaza Strip
 - IOF opened fire at Palestinian farmers and fishermen in the northern Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported.

In the Gaza Strip, on 14 April 2011, medical sources at Gaza European Hospital in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, announced that Mahdi Jumaa Abu Athreh, 22, from al-Shouka village in the southeast of Rafah, died of his wounds. According to PCHR's investigations, at approximately 08:00 on Friday, 08 April 2011, IOF fired two artillery shells at the vicinity of Gaza International Airport. Four Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded as a result. Medical sources at Abu Yousif al-Najjar hospital described the wounds of two of them, including Abu Athreh, to be serious.

On 16 April 2011, an IOF warplane fired a missile at Tunis training site which is used by members of the Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, and which is adjacent to Tunis Primary School in the east of al-Zaytoon neighborhood, east OF Gaza city.  The windows of the school crashed as a result.

On 17 April 2011, IOF positioned in observation towers along the border in the east of Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian farmers who were on their farms in the east of Beit Hanoun. Palestinian farmers escaped in fear for their lives. 

[...]

Thursday, 14 April 2011 

At approximately 10:00, medical sources at Gaza European Hospital in Khan Younis, southern the Gaza Strip, announced that Mahdi Jumaa Abu Athreh, 22, from al-Shokeh village in the southeast of Rafah, died of his wounds. According to PCHR investigations, at approximately 08:00 on Friday, 08 April 2011, IOF fired two artillery shells at the vicinity of Gaza International Airport. Four Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded as a result. Medical sources at Abu Yousif al-Najjar hospital described the wounds of two of them, including Abu Athreh, to be serious.

Saturday, 16 April 2011

At approximately 01:10, an IOF warplane fired a missile at Tunis training site which is used by members of the Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, and which is adjacent to Tunis Primary School in the east of al-Zaytoon neighborhood in the east of Gaza city. The windows of the school crashed as a result.

Sunday, 17 April 2011

At approximately 09:40, IOF positioned on observation towers along the border in the east of Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian farmers who were in their farms in the east of al-Qurman street, al-Naayma street and al-Masreyen street in the east of Beit Hanoun. Palestinian farmers escaped in fear for their lives and no casualties or damages were reported. 

 

Israel troops destroy structures by Gaza crossing

 Maan

 

GAZA CITY (AFP) -- Israeli troops made a brief incursion into Gaza early on Thursday to demolish several buildings which the army said were being used by "terrorist organizations".

Palestinians said the buildings were warehouses holding goods which had been transferred to the Gaza Strip via the nearby Karni crossing, which Israel shut down earlier this year.

Witnesses said the buildings contained assorted equipment, children's diapers, scrap metal and cleaning detergent. The goods were damaged during the destruction of the warehouses.

The operation also damaged a room holding the electrical generators for the industrial zone near the Karni crossing, they said.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said the operation was intended to raze buildings being used by "terrorist organizations" in the Gaza Strip.

"Israel Defense Forces dismantled structures that previously were a part of the Karni crossing, which were used by terrorist organizations to execute terrorist activities against IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians," she said.

"In light of security assessments and alerts of terrorist activity from the area, (the region's commander) Major-General Tal Russo ordered the closure and the dismantling of the Karni crossing approximately two months ago," she added.

Goods that had previously been transferred into Gaza through Karni, which sits adjacent to Gaza City on the coastal territory's eastern border with Israel, are now transferred through the Kerem Shalom crossing in the south.

Palestinian merchants and truck drivers have complained that the southern crossing is inconvenient, as it lies further than Karni from Gaza's main population center, Gaza City.

Israeli tanks open fire in northern Gaza

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Several Israeli army tanks entered northern Gaza on Sunday and opened fire, witnesses said.

No injuries were reported, but residents said fields sustained heavy damage from the tanks' caterpillar tread, which ripped through crops.

Earlier Sunday, Israeli warships opened fire on fishermen off the coast of Gaza.

An Israeli military spokesperson did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Israeli army invades into northern Gaza Strip

 

17-04-2011,14:16
 

Al Qassam website- Gaza- Israeli occupation forces (IOF) invaded into eastern Beit Hanun town in northern Gaza Strip on Sunday morning amid heavy gunfire, local sources said .

The sources reported that IOF soldiers supported with number of armored vehicles advanced 100 meters into the area and bulldozed lands and farms.

The sources said that the soldiers shot at Palestinian farmers, who were tending their land, and at nearby homes. They noted that no casualties were reported.

Israeli occupation forces conduct daily military attacks against Palestinian residents who living in their lands and farms near the isolation fence of what so-called "Israel".

ISM confirms the death of Vittorio Arrigoni

The International Solidarity Movement is shocked and deeply saddened by the killing of our friend and colleague Vittorio Arrigoni. Vik was an inspiring activist and generous soul. Please keep his family and friends in your thoughts.
We will post more information here as it becomes available.

Vittorio Arrigoni

Vittorio Arrigoni

Vittorio Arrigoni

Vittorio Arrigoni

Vittorio Arrigoni

Vittorio Arrigoni

Updated on April 15, 2011

Palestinians call for release of Italian activist kidnapped in Gaza

INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
FREE GAZA MOVEMENT
For Immediate Release
[April 14, 2001] Today, our friend and colleague, Vittorio Arrigoni, a journalist and human rights defender working in the Gaza Strip, was kidnapped by Salafists, members of a very small extremist group in Gaza.

Vittorio Arrigoni

Vittorio has been active in the Palestine cause for almost 10 years. For the past two and a half years, he has been in Gaza with the International Solidarity Movement, monitoring human rights violations by Israel, supporting the Palestinian popular resistance against the Israeli occupation and disseminating information about the situation in Gaza to his home country of Italy. He was aboard the siege-breaking voyage in 2008 with the Free Gaza Movement and was incarcerated in Israeli prisons several times. He was in Gaza throughout Israel’s brutal assault (Operation Cast Lead), assisting medics and reporting to the world what Israel was doing to the Palestinian people. He has been arrested numerous times by Israeli forces for his participation in Palestinian non-violent resistance in the West Bank and Gaza. His last arrest and deportation from the area was a result of the Israeli confiscation of Palestinian fishing vessels in Gazan territorial waters.

Vittorio frequently writes on the issue of Palestine for the Italian newspaper, IL Manifesto and Peacereporter. Additionally, he maintains a popular blog (http://guerrillaradio.iobloggo.com) and facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vittoriatio-Arrigoni/)
Khalil Shaheen, a friend of Vittorio and Head of the Economic and Social Rights Department at the Palestinian Center for Human Rights said, “This is outside of our traditions. We are calling for the immediate release of my best friend. Vittorio Arrigoni is a hero of Palestine. He was available everywhere to support all the poor people, the victims. I’m calling on the local authorities here in Gaza, and all security departments, to do their best to guarantee his safety and immediate release.”
Vittorio was granted honorary citizenship for his work on promoting the cause of the Palestinian people. Members of Gazan civil society are demanding his release; tomorrow at 4:00pm there will be a mass demonstration in Jundi Square.

Updated on April 14, 2011

PCHR weekly report 7/4 - 13/4/2011: 10 civilians killed, including 2 children, 39 injured, including 14 children close to border areas

extracts from PCHR weekly report 7/4 - 13/4/2011:

Escalated Israeli Attacks on the Gaza Strip

At approximately 15:00 on Thursday, 07 April 2011, IOF started to bombard several areas throughout the Gaza Strip. The Israeli shelling continued until Saturday morning, 09 April 2011, during which IOF killed 18 Palestinians, including 9 civilians. The civilian victims include a woman and her daughter and two children. IOF also wounded 38 civilians, including 14 children, a woman and two paramedics, and 4 resistance activists. 

The Israeli shelling also destroyed a number of training sites of the Palestinian resistance and damaged dozens of houses. 

[NOTE: only the parts concerning attacks against civilians, or their properties, close to the border areas with Israel are copied ]

Northern Gaza Strip

· At approximately 16:05 on Thursday, 07 April 2011, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired 6 artillery shells at the northern Gaza Strip. Four of these shells landed in the vicinity of al-Shuhada Cemetery in the east of Jabalya town. As a result, Ra'fat Tayseer Jnaid, 21, sustained bruises to the left hand. The remaining two sells hit Abu Safiya area in the northeast of Jabalya town, but no casualties were reported. IOF also fired a surface-to-surface missile at an open area to the east of al-Amal neighborhood in the northeast of Beit Hanoun town. No casualties were reported.

· At approximately the same time, IOF helicopter gunships opened fire at open areas in the east of Jabalya town. No casualties were reported.

[...]

· At approximately 17:10 on the same day, IOF helicopter gunships fired 5 missiles at a training site of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in the northeast of Beit Lahia town, but no casualties were reported. They also fired a 6^th missile at al-Masri agricultural nursery , which is located near a house belonging to Jameel Mohammed Abu Shadaq, in Tal al-Dahab area in Beit Lahia town. The house and 3 neighboring ones were damaged, but no casualties were reported. 

· At approximately 18:15 on the same day, an IOF drone fired a missile at Muhannad Ahmed al-Jerjawi, 18, a farmer from al-Sidra area in al-Daraj neighborhood in the east of Gaza City, once he left an agricultural land belonging to the Abu Halima family, where he works. As a result, his left leg was cut and he was seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body. 

[...]

· At approximately 16:35 on the same day, Israeli soldiers station on observation towers along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north and northwest of Beit Lahia town opened fire at Palestinian farmers in al-Sayafa area. The farmers fled from the area and no casualties were reported.

[...]

· At approximately 22:05 on the same day, an IOF drone fired a missile on an open area to the north of 'Assaliya area in Jabalya. No casualties were reported.

· At approximately 22:35 on the same day, IOF fired an artillery shell at an agricultural land belonging to Mohammed Mas'oud in Jabalya. A number of nearby houses were damaged, but no casualties were reported.

· At approximately 23:35 on the same day, an IOF warplane fired a missile at a training site of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in Jabalya. A number of nearby houses were damaged, but no casualties were reported.

· At approximately 02:35 on Saturday, 09 April 2011, an IOF drone fired a missile at an agricultural land belonging to Sa'id Rabi' Hamdiya in Jabalya. Two Palestinian civilians living in nearby houses were lightly injured by fragments of glass:

1. Mustafa Sa'id Hamdiya, 37, injured in the head; and

2. 'Alaa' Saber Abu 'Aqel, 30, injured throughout the body.

[...]

Gaza City

· At approximately 15:00 on Thursday, 07 April 2011, IOF shelled various areas in al-Shuja'iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. An artillery shell hit a house belonging to Mahmoud Mansour al-Manasra, 58, near al-Kourba intersection. As a result, his child, Fawaz, 15, was wounded by shrapnel to the right hand. Soon after, IOF fired 3 shells at the same house, which is located nearly 1,200 meters away from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, killing the owner. IOF continued to shell the area sporadically. As a result, Subhi 'Abdul Rahman Abu Shanab, 60, was wounded by shrapnel to the right foot.

· At approximately 00:30 on Friday, 08 April 2011, IOF fired an artillery shell at a house belonging to Rami Jawad Hilles in al-Shuja'iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City, nearly 1,200 meters away from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. The house was heavily damaged, but no casualties were reported.

· At approximately 16:15 on the same day, an IOF warplane fired a missile at a person who was riding a motorcycle near al-Sawafiri intersection in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. The person survived the attack, by a nearby company belonging to Hassan al-Wakeel  and a number of nearby houses were damaged. 

· At approximately 17:00 on the same day, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired an artillery shell at a house belonging to Ahmed Mohammed al-'Arqan in al-Mansoura Street in al-Shuja'iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City, nearly 2,500 meters away from the border. Fourth floor of the house was damaged, but no casualties were reported.

· At approximately 19:00 on the same day, IOF fired an artillery shell at al-Sourani Mount in al-Sha'af neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. No casualties were reported.

· At approximately 19:10 on the same day, IOF positioned at border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired two artillery shells at a gathering of Palestinian civilians near the cemetery of al-Shuja'iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. As a result, two civilians, including a child, were killed:

1. Mahmoud Wa'el al-Jaru, 10; and

2. Bilal Mohammed al-'Ar'ir,. 24. 

Another 10 civilians, including 4 children and a paramedic, were wounded.

· At approximately 01:30 on Saturday, 09 April 2011, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired a number of artillery shells at open areas in al-Shuja'iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. No casualties were reported.

[...]

Central Gaza Strip

· At approximately 15:30 on Thursday, 07 April 2011, IOF fired a number of artillery shells at Juhor al-Dik area, southeast of Gaza City. No casualties were reported.

· At approximately 15:40 on the same day, IOF fired 4 artillery shells the east of al-Salqa Valley village, east of Deir al-Balah. No casualties were reported.

[...]

Khan Yunis

· At approximately 16:00 on Thursday, 07 April 2011, IOF tanks positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Khan Yunis, fired a number of shells at Palestinian houses and agricultural areas in al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. As a result, Yousef Ahmed al-Smairi, 10, was wounded by shrapnel to the hands.

· At approximately 16:30 on the same day, IOF warplanes bombarded an agricultural room belonging to the Abu Shab family in al-Zanna area in Bani Suhaila village, east of Khan Yunis. No casualties were reported.

· At approximately 17:00 on the same day, IOF shelled Palestinian areas located along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Khan Yunis. No casualties were reported. 

· At approximately 18:00 on the same day, IOF fired 3 artillery shells at a house belonging to Ra'ed Ibrahim Qudaih in the east of Khuza'a village, east of Khan Yunis. The house which had been repeatedly shelled by IOF was damaged.

[...]

· At approximately 12:20 on the same day, an IOF drone fired a missile at the yard of a house belonging to Ibrahim Hamdan Qudaih in 'Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis. As a result, Qudaih's wife and daughter were killed:

1. Najah Harb Salem Qudaih, 41; and

2. Nidal Ibrahim Hamdan Qudaih, 19. 

Qudaih's two other daughters were also wounded:

1. Nidaa', 18, in a serious condition; and

2. Fidaa;, 15, wounded by shrapnel to the feet.

· At approximately 12:30 on the same day, IOF drones fired two missile at al-Manara neighborhood in the southeast of Khan Yunis. As a result, Talal Rabi' 'Eissa Abu Taha, 56, was seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body, and he died once evacuated to the hospital. His cousin, Hamada Salama 'Eissa Abu Taha, 25, was wounded by shrapnel to the feet.

· At approximately 23:15 on the same day, IOF tanks positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, fired a number of shells at al-Fukhari area in the southeast of Khan Yunis. Two shells hit the roof of a house belonging to 'Amru Sa'id al-'Omour, damaging it.

· At approximately 21:05 on Saturday, 09 April 2011, an IOF warplane fired a missile at an open land in al-Zanna area in Bani Suhaila village, east of Khan Yunis. No casualties were reported.

Rafah

· At approximately 16:00 on Thursday, 07 April 2011, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired at least 10 artillery shells and IOF helicopter gunships opened fire in the vicinity of Gaza International Airport, southeast of Rafah. A number of shells landed near 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, who were in the airport. Two of these civilians were killed and the third one died of his wound later:

1. Mohammed 'Aayada al-Mahmoum, 25;

2. Khaled Isma'il Hamdan al-Dbari, 17; and

3. Saleh Jermi 'Atiya al-Tarabin, 38. 

When a number of civilians attempted to offer help to the wounded, Mos'ab Mohammed 'Obaid al-Soufi, 20, was killed and 14 others, including 5 children and a paramedic, were wounded. Later, Faten Subhi al-Liddawi, 44, was wounded when she was near her house in al-Salam neighborhood, as IOF warplanes bombarded tunnels along the Egyptian border.

· At approximately 08:00 on Friday, 08 April 2011, IOF fired two artillery shells at the vicinity of Gaza International Airport. As a result, 4 Palestinian civilians, including two children, were wounded, two of whom were in a serious condition.

[...]

Woman and daughter killed in ‘Abasan with propelling projectile missile

11 April 2011 | International Solidarity Movement, Gaza


On April 8th, around noon, the southern villages around Khan Younis were shaken up when four artillery shells were fired from a tank. One of them hit a house located in ‘Abasan village. Najah Harb Qdeih (41) was making bread outside and her daughter Nedal Ibrahim Qdeih (19) was with her, they both instantly died in the blast. The bodies of the victims were riddled with dozens of the sharp projectiles that were contained in the missiles which the Israeli army had ruthlessly fired at their house.
Two other daughters, Fida’a (15) and Nida’a (12) remain in hospital. Nida’a is critically injured and is struggling to survive; she has shrapnel in her brain and is currently waiting to be transferred from Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis to the West Bank to undergo surgery.
The next day, her older sister Fida’a, who had not fully understood what had happened yet, asked for her mother. They told her that she died. Then she asked about her sister, and had to hear that she too died. 19 year old Nidal was engaged and was supposed to get married next month. The family was re-organizing the house to prepare for the wedding. No more: she has been snatched away from this life and there is only grieving to be done by the remaining family members.
The missile contained hundreds of small propelling projectiles, which riddled the bodies of the women and the children, the walls, the doors, the plants and the trees. All are pierced. Seats were smeared in blood.
This missile is a weapon designed to kill as many people as possible, to clear as many lives as possible. There is no justification for this, it is not possible to call it defence. This missile was not created or meant to kill a single person that threatens the safety of someone else, it is made to kill as many people as possible. You cannot see where the propelling artillery ends up: it entails a high probability of killing innocent people. And it has intentionally been used against civilians, by what they call “the most moral army in the world”.
The women are mourning the family losses and are receiving visitors bringing their condolences. Two girls, sisters and daughters of the victims, stare into the void, their eyes have cried all tears possible. Their faces state incomprehension of the unjustifiable killings of their dear ones, by a missile that is designed to kill as many people as possible and used against those that have the only guilty to be born in the wrong place – the Palestinians from Gaza.
One of the women in the mourning place angrily exclaims: “They claim they are democratic, but we are paying for their democracy with our blood, our sons and daughters, our lives, our homes, our land, our future and our dreams!”
One of the girls’ cousins was desperate: “Should the international community take care of civilians or not? Where are they now? Where are they? All in Libya? They kill our children, they bomb our wives and our daughters and where is the UN?”

PCHR weekly report 31/3 - 6/4/2011: 1 Palestinian civilian killed, 6 lightly injured, airstrikes, destruction of infrastructure, houses damaged

extracts from PCHR weekly report 31/3 - 6/4/2011:

A Palestinian civilian was killed by IOF when approaching the border in northern the Gaza Strip.


On 05 April 2011, IOF used lethal excessive force to kill a Palestinian who was approximately 80 meters to the west of the border with Israel in the northern Gaza Strip.  The reasons why this Palestinian was in that area have not been known. 
On 03 April 2011, IOF positioned in observation towers on the border in the west of Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, northwest of Beit Hanoun town, opened fire at Palestinian farmers and shepherds who were in their farms in the north and northwest of Beit Hanoun.  No casualties were reported.  On 05 April 2011, IOF warplanes bombarded the al-Sourani mountain area in al-Shaaf neighborhood in the east of Gaza city.  The bombardment targeted a plastic recycling workshop. The workshop was totally destroyed and civilian property and objects in the vicinity sustained damages.


Sunday, 03 April 2011


At approximately 09:15, IOF positioned on observation towers on the border in the west of Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing opened fire at Palestinian farmers who were in their farms in the north and northwest of Beit Hanoun village. IOF also fired at Palestinian shepherds who were tending their sheep approximately 600 meters to the east of Beit Hanoun crossing. IOF continued to fire for approximately ten minutes. Palestinian farmers and shepherds left the area in fear for their lives. No casualties were reported.

Tuesday, 05 April 2011




 In an excessive use of lethal force, in the morning, IOF killed a Palestinian civilian who was at a distance of approximately 80 meters to the west of the border with Israel in the northern Gaza Strip. The reasons behind the Palestinian's presence in that area has not been identified yet.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 09:20, IOF stationed at the border, north of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Mohammed Zeyad Khamis Shalha, 22, killing him. Shalha lived near al-Taqwa mosque, next to Beit Lahia cemetery in Beit Lahia project.

According to medical sources of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, which sent 2 ambulances to the scene, at approximately 09:30, they obtained a permit through the International Committee of the Red Cross to enter the area and find the body. At approximately 11:30, they found the body at 80 meters away from the borders. The body was transported to Martyr Kamal 'Odwan Hospital in Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip, where doctors said the victim was by bullets in the neck, chest, left thigh and legs.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, Shalha was in his civilian clothes. None of the political or resistance Palestinian groups mourned him, as he used to head there to collect aggregate for the construction works. However, the reason behind his presence in that area on that date was not identified.  

At approximately 23:10, an IOF warplane fired a missile at al-Sourani Mountain area in the east of al-Shaaf neighborhood in the east of Gaza city.  No casualties were reported. 

Just five minutes later, an IOF F-16 fighter fired a missile at a tin-covered structure used for recycling plastic waste.  This project, located near al-Sourani Mountain, is owned by Mamdouh Yousef Khalil Zeidan.  The project which stands on 1,200 m2 of land is aimed at protecting the environment.  The project is implemented in partnership with Gaza Municipality.  This structure was totally destroyed when it was bombarded earlier by IOF on 21 March 2011. The recent bombardment inflicted heavy damages to Reyadh Hassanin Construction Materials Company which is owned by Reyadh Yousef Hassanin and which is established on a piece of land measuring 670 m2. Fourteen workers are employed in the company. Damages were caused to machines, brick molds, two water pumps and the floor. In addition, partial damages were caused to eleven houses located to the west of the targeted project. The windows of these houses were crushed. Four Palestinian civilians, including two women, were panicked and light injuries in different parts of the body. They were transferred to al-Shifa hospital.