Thursday, April 7, 2011

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.