PCHR weekly report 12/1 - 18/1/2012: 3 incursions, 1 Palestinian abducted

extract from PCHR weekly report 12/1 - 18/1/2012

Incursions: 

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 3 limited incursions on 18 January 2008.  The first incursion was conducted at around 02:00 into al-Shoka village, in the southeast of Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, and arrested two Palestinians.

The second incursion took place at around 11:55 after IOF killed two Palestinian resistance activists in the southeast of Beit Hanoun in the north of the Gaza Strip.  IOF conducted scanning works and then withdrew over the border.

IOF conducted the third incursion at around 12:30; they moved around 400 meters into the north of Beit Lahia, in the north of the Gaza Strip, while conducting intensive shooting at Palestinian farms located around 700 meters form the borders, following which they conducted scanning works.  At around 14:00, IOF drove to the east along the border and positioned themselves at the Bedouin Village.  They continued firing and conducting scanning works.  Later, they drove to the site of the ex-settlement of Nisanit, northwest of Beit Hanoun.  IOF withdrew at around 16:00 and neither casualties nor damages to civilian property were reported.

 Wednesday, 18 January 2012 

at approximately 02:00, IOF moved dozens of meters in al-Shoka village, southeast of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip.  Before withdrawing, they arrested Akram Hussein Mohammed al-Sufi, 24, from the Bedouin village, in the north of the Gaza Strip. The father of Akram al-Sufi stated that Akram is a member of the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad, and that he may be arrested while on mission. 

At approximately 11:05, IOF positioned at the border in the southeast of Beit Hanoun, in the north of the Gaza Strip, fired 8 consecutive artillery shells at two Palestinian resistance activists while on mission near the border area. Israeli aircrafts also flew in the sky and opened heavy fire at the two activists. One of them, Mohammed Shaker Ahmed Abu Oda, 22, from Beit Hanoun, was killed immediately as he sustained shrapnel wounds in the lower part of his body and in the abdomen and the chest.  The other activist, Ahmed Khaled Mohammed al-Zaanin, 18, from Beit Hanoun, sustained wounds in the head and shrapnel wounds throughout the body.  The firing continued for around 45 minutes. At around 11:55, IOF moved into the targeted area and conducting scanning works till 12:20.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that at approximately 11:20, two PRCS ambulances drove to the targeted area. The ambulances arrived at the targeted area at around 11:40 and stopped around 150 meters far from the borders.  They two resistance activists were only 50 meters from the two ambulances and one of the ambulances tried to drive towards them but IOF fired two artillery shells at the proximity of the ambulances. At around 12:25, PRCS managed to evacuate the body of Abu Oda and al-Zaanin who was still alive and transferred them to Beit Hanoun Public Hospital. Al-Zaanin was referred to al-Shifa Hospital at around 13:15 for treatment but he was pronounced dead at around 14:15.

None of the Palestinian resistance groups has announced its responsibility for sending the two resistance activists.

IOF declared that they targeted a group of Palestinians who were trying to plant explosive near the border.

At approximately 12:30, IOF moved around 400 meters into the north of Beit Lahia, in the north of the Gaza Stripamid intensive firing at Palestinian farms located around 700 meters form the border, IOF conducted scanning works. Palestinian farmers were forced to flee the area in fear for sake of their safety.  At around 14:00, IOF drove to the east along the border and they stationed off the Bedouin Village.  They continued firing and their scanning works.  Later, they drove to the site of the ex-settlement  Nisanit, northwest of Beit Hanoun.  IOF withdrew at around 16:00 and neither casualties nor damages to civilian property were reported.