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Weekly report on Israeli human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories 27 Feb - 05 Mar 2003

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
Consultative Status with the ECOSOC of the United Nations
Affiliate of the International Commission of Jurists - Geneva
Member of the International Federation for Human Rights - Paris
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network
An Escalation of Israeli Illegal Military Actions against the Palestinian People and the International Community Remains Silent

  • 281 Palestinians, including 6 children, a deaf young man, two old men and two women, one of whom was pregnant, killed by Israeli forces

  • 21 of the victims were killed during Israeli offensives on Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip

  • Israeli forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas, accompanied by indiscriminate shelling

  • Israeli forces continued to use Palestinian civilians as human shields

  • The Israeli retaliatory campaign continues against families of wanted Palestinians and those who allegedly have carried out armed attacks against Israeli targets

  • A number of Palestinians have been detained

  • The severe siege of the OPT has continued

Introduction

In the first week, after the new Israeli government took office, Israeli occupying forces have perpetrated grave illegal military actions against Palestinian civilians and property, using all kinds of weapons. Such actions came after threats made by the Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz to escalate the military operation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The latest and most violent Israeli onslaught targeted Jabalya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip last night. Israeli warplanes and tanks intensely shelled the camp. The operation, which continues until Thursday morning, 6 March 2003, left dead 11 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children and an old man. Five of the victims were killed by a tank shell fired by Israeli forces during their withdrawal from the camp, when these civilians were trying to putt out fire that had broken out in a house. In addition, more than 50 Palestinians, including two journalists, were injured. Israeli forces destroyed two Palestinian houses, damaging dozens of neighboring houses. They also caused severe damage to the infrastructure, houses and shops in the camp. During the week, Israeli forces had launched two other similar offensives against al-Boreij refugee camp and Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip. Those operations left dead 10 Palestinian civilians, including a child and pregnant woman who died under the ruins of her destroyed house. Her husband and 4 of her children were also injured. Dozens of other Palestinian civilians were injured as well. During the two operations, Israeli forces destroyed 4 Palestinian houses, which left dozens of other houses either destroyed or damaged.

Israeli occupying forces have continued their illegal military actions against Palestinian civilians and their property, using various kinds of weapons. This week, 27 February - 5 March 2003, 28 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 6 children, two women, an old man and a deaf youth, were killed by Israeli forces.

Israeli forces shelled and moved into Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip. They shelled these areas, demolished dozens of Palestinian houses and razed large areas of agricultural land. In Rafah, Israeli forces demolished 22 houses near the Egyptian border, south of the town, rendering dozens of Palestinian civilians homeless. Also this week, Israeli forces indiscriminately shelled Palestinian residential areas and medical and educational institutions in Khan Yunis, injuring dozens of Palestinian civilians, including a school child, who was seriously injured while she was inside her classroom.

In violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who have carried out attacks against Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces. In this context, they destroyed 11 Palestinian houses in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In various cases of apparent willful killing, this week, Israeli forces shot dead 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child, a deaf youth and an old man. In addition, two other Palestinian civilians, including a woman, died from previous injuries they sustained by Israeli forces.

Israeli occupying forces have maintained a total siege on the OPT. They have isolated Palestinian communities from one another. They have partitioned the Gaza Strip into three separated zones and restricted the movement of people and goods. They have also maintained curfews on some areas in the West Bank. On 5 March 2003, Israeli forces imposed a closure on the West Bank until Sunday, 9 March 2003. A young Palestinian woman died as Israeli forces prevented her travel to Jordan to receive medical care there.

The Shelling of and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas

Israeli offensive on Khan Yunis

Saturday night, 1 March 2003, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and helicopters and covered by intense shelling, thrust into Khan Younis refugee camp and al-Nimsawi neighborhood in the western part of the town. The Israeli invasion continued until 07:00 on Sunday, 2 March 2003, and left dead two Palestinians, including a civilian who was killed at home. 39 were injured, including 7 inside the Nasser Hospital. In addition, Israeli forces destroyed an apartment building located in a densely populated area, which rendered dozens of neighboring houses destroyed. They also bulldozed 5 other houses. In an aggression against medical and educational institutions, Israeli forces demolished large parts of the walls surrounding Nasser Hospital and an UNRWA preparatory school.

According to PCHR's investigation and eyewitness reports, at approximately midnight, around 30 Israeli heavy military vehicles, accompanied by military bulldozers, moved approximately 400m into Khan Younis refugee camp. At the same time a number of other Israeli forces moved into al-Nimsawi neighborhood in the west of Khan Younis. Israeli heavy military vehicles and helicopters shelled the two areas intensely.

In Khan Younis refugee camp, Israeli forces surrounded a 7-storey apartment building, in which 7 families, counting 54 people, live. The house is owned by Fayez 'Ouda Hussein Abu 'Aker. They called through loudspeakers on residents of the house to get out, but they refused. Immediately, Israeli forces, accompanied by dogs, broke into the house and held up its residents. They used 15-year-old Rafiq Fa'eq Abu 'Aker as a human shield while searching the house. They also fired live bullets and sound bombs inside the house while searching it. Then, Israeli forces ordered residents of the house to get out and took them approximately 200m away, without allowing them to evacuate their belongings. They also forced residents of neighboring houses out. Israeli soldiers then planted explosives in the house and destroyed it, including some commercial stores that contained foodstuffs for approximately 10,000 US$. As a result of the blast, dozens of neighboring houses were totally or partially destroyed, and the eastern facade of a mosque was destroyed. Israeli military bulldozers also demolished 3 houses:

1. A 120-square-meter, 4-storey house, in which 4 families counting 25 people lived, owned by Ibrahim 'Ali Mohammed Abu 'Awadh;

2. A 108-square-meter, 3-storey house, in which 3 families counting 17 people lived, owned by heirs of 'Ali Hassan Abu Zaid; and

3. A 180-square-meter, 2-storey house, in which 4 families counting 17 people lived, owned by Ahmed Mohammed Hassan Abu Zaid.

In al-Nimsawi neighborhood, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved from "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, towards Nasser Hospital in the north of the neighborhood. They surrounded the hospital and military bulldozers demolished large parts of its fence. Also in the same area, Israeli military bulldozers demolished large parts of the fence surrounding an UNRWA preparatory school. They then demolished 3 houses:

1. They totally demolished a 200-square-meter, tin and concrete-roofed house, in which two families counting 5 people lived, owned by Rami 'Abdul Latif Mohammed al-Zaqzouq.

2. They partially demolished a 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8 people live, owned by Riad 'Abdul Latif al-Zaqzouq.

3. They totally demolished a 60-square-meter, tin-roofed uninhabited house owned by Isma'il Hashem al-Zaqzouq.

The bulldozers started demolishing one of these houses while its residents were still inside.

A number of Palestinian gunmen confronted Israeli forces during the incursion, which continued until 07:00 on Sunday, 2 March 2003. One of the gunmen, Mohammed Mar'ei 'Abdul Hadi, 25, was killed by a live bullet in the chest.

As a result of the Israeli indiscriminate shelling, a Palestinian civilian, 'Abed Rabbu D'ib 'Abed Rabbu, 52, was injured by shrapnel in the chest and back. He bled to death. According to eyewitnesses, 4 artillery shells hit the bedroom of his house, which is located in al-Nimsawi neighborhood, approximately 100m away from Nasser Hospital. Palestinian medical personnel were not able to reach the area due to the intensive Israeli shelling and because the Israeli soldiers denied them access to the affected house. 'Abed Rabbu bled to death. His body was evacuated to hospital at approximately 07:00, after the Israeli forces had withdrawn from the area. Also as a result of Israeli indiscriminate shelling and gunfire, 39 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 10 children, were wounded. Seven of those were wounded inside Nasser Hospital, including two staff members: Mahmoud Mohammed al-Bardawil, 35, a nurse; and Ahmed Salman al-Faqa'awi, a worker.

PCHR's field worker in Khan Yunis reported that ambulances faced difficulties in attending to the wounded due to intensive Israeli shelling, which damaged buildings inside Nasser Hospital, a number of houses and the telephone and electricity supplies.

Israeli Offensive on al-Boreij Refugee Camp

In another offensive into al-Boreij refugee camp, reflecting that these frequent Israeli incursions have become a systematic policy, Israeli occupying forces killed 8 Palestinian civilians, including a pregnant woman who bled to death under ruins of her destroyed house. In addition, they destroyed a mosque and 8 houses, when they, reinforced with dozens of heavy military vehicles and helicopters, invaded the camp in the central Gaza Strip on Monday, 3 March 2003 to destroy some houses.

According to PCHR's investigation and eyewitness reports, at approximately 00:30, around 60 Israeli heavy military vehicles, including military bulldozers, moved approximately 2-5km into al-Boreij refugee camp from three directions; from the eastern border, from "Kfar Darom" settlement in the south, and from "Netzarim" settlement in the north. Before this incursion, Israeli undercover units dressed in civilian clothes deployed around targeted houses.

A number of Israeli military jeeps moved from "Netzarim" settlement, south of Gaza City, approximately 5km into al-Boreij refugee camp. They surrounded the house of Mohammed Hassan Taha, 65, allegedly wanted by Israeli forces. Israeli soldiers broke into house opening fire inside after they had destroyed its door. The owner's son, Ayman, 35, was wounded by a live bullet in the right hand. Then, Israeli soldiers arrested Taha and his three sons: 'Abdullah, 23; Ayman, 35; and 'Abdul Rahman, 19, and two other civilians in the area: Sami 'Abdullah Hamed, 33; and Ibrahim 'Abdul Raziq al-'Abeed, 22. Soon, a number of Israeli heavy military vehicles arrived at the area and imposed a curfew. Israeli soldiers forced the 10 residents of the 250-square-meter house, and the residents of the neighboring houses, out and planted explosives in the house. Then, they destroyed the house. The eastern facade of the nearby al-Taqwa Mosque was destroyed by the blast.

At the same time, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved from "Kfar Darom" settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah, approximately 5km into the camp. They surrounded the house of 'Aadel 'Abdullah 'Abdul Salam. He is the father of Sami 'Abdul Salam who was killed in a bombing at al-Matahen military checkpoint, north of Khan Yunis, on 9 February 2003. Israeli soldiers forced the 10 residents of the 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house out and destroyed it. As a result, 3 neighboring houses were destroyed:

1. A 60-square-meter house, in which 12 people lived, owned by Shukri Suleiman Hussein al-Maqadma was destroyed. A room collapsed over the family, killing the wife, Nuha Sabri al-Maqadma, 40, who was 9 months pregnant. Since ambulances and rescue teams couldn't reach the house due to the presence of the Israeli forces, which opened fire in all directions, the wife remained under ruins of the house bleeding. In addition, 4 of her 10 children were injured.

2. A 100-square-meter, tin and asbestos-roofed house, in which 9 people lived, owned by Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Raya was destroyed.

3. A 60-square-meter, 2-storey house, in which two families counting 8 people lived, owned by Ahmed Mohammed Amin Shahin.

At the same time, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved from the eastern border of the Gaza Strip approximately 2km into the camp. They surrounded the house of Ramadan Hassan Abu Hassanein. He is a relative of Suleiman Abu Hassanein who carried out an armed attack against Israeli forces in the Kissufim area, southeast of Deir al-Balah, last year. Israeli soldiers, accompanied by dogs, broke into the house after they had destroyed its door. A dog bit the owner's daughter, Islam, 12. Israeli soldiers forced the 13 residents of the 220-square-meter, 2-storey house out and destroyed it. As a result, a neighboring 60-square-meter, tin-roofed house, in which two people lived, was destroyed. That house was owned by Suleiman Mustafa Hamdan. In addition, a carpentry workshop owned by Khaled Abu Hwaishel was destroyed, and a number of neighboring houses were damaged. When Israeli forces withdrew from the area, Ramadan Abu Hassanein's son, Hassan, 20, was found under ruins of the house. He was wounded by several live bullets in the feet and the left hand.

At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces raided the house of Ahmed Suleiman al-Qurinawi and forced its residents out. Then, they broke into a car park near the house and destroyed a civilian car, a black Hyundai, owned by Fu'ad Ibrahim al-Wir. The car was used by Riad Abu Zaid who was assassinated by Israeli forces on 17 February 2003.

As a result of the indiscriminate shelling by the Israeli forces during the incursion and withdrawal, 7 Palestinian civilians, including a child and a security man, were killed:

1. Tariq Sa'di 'Aqel, 13, from Nusseirat refugee camp, shot by several live bullets throughout the body;

2. Maher Khamis al-Refa'ei, 24, from al-Boreij refugee camp, a member of the Palestinian National Security Force, shot by two live bullets in the back and the chest;

3. Walid 'Abdullah al-Khatib, 24, from al-Boreij refugee camp, shot by a live bullet in the chest;

4. Mohammed 'Ali al-Babli, 22, from Nusseirat refugee camp, shot by a live bullet in the pelvis;

5. Rami Yousef 'Awadh, 21, from al-Boreij refugee camp, shot by a live bullet in the abdomen - he bled to death;

6. Fadi Fayez al-Hawajri, 19, from Nusseirat refugee camp, shot by two live bullets in the chest and the foot; and

7. Mo'tassem Hamed 'Aqel, 24, from al-Boreij refugee camp, shot by a live bullet in the head.

Friday, 28 February 2003

At approximately 07:45, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, shelled Khan Yunis refugee camp. A Palestinian child, Reem Mahmoud 'Ali Abu 'Obaida, 9, was wounded by shrapnel in the head, while she was playing at home, approximately 200m away from the source of fire.

At approximately 09:30, 6 Israeli heavy military vehicles, covered by intensive shelling, moved approximately 200m into al-Brazil neighborhood in the south of Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border. They destroyed two Palestinian houses:

1. A 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8 people lived, owned by Ihsan 'Ouda 'Omar al-Natour; and

2. A 90-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which two people lived, owned by Mustafa Jamal 'Abdul Qader Hassan.

Live bullets hit an electricity transmitter in the area, cutting electricity.

At approximately 12:00, Israeli occupying forces in a military location in Tal Zo'rob area in the southwest of Rafah opened fire at the nearby Zo'rob square. A Palestinian child, Mohammed Yahia Tabasi, 12, was wounded by shrapnel in the right hand while he was near his house.

At approximately 13:30, 7 Israeli heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved approximately 200m into al-Salam neighborhood in the south of Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border. They demolished 4 Palestinian houses:

1. A 350-square-meter house, in which two families counting 12 people lived, owned by Mohammed Mousa Ahmed al-Ghoul;

2. A 200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 3 families counting 19 people lived, owned by Joma'a Sarhan Khalil Abu Jazar;

3. A 300-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which two families counting 19 people lived, owned by 'Aatef Suleiman Hassan al-Qadhi; and

4. A 200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which two people lived, owned by Ibrahim Isma'il Suleiman al-Qadhi.

At approximately 15:30, 5 Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 100m into Block J in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the Egyptian border. They demolished two Palestinian houses:

1. A 370-square-meter house, in which 4 families counting 20 people lived, owned by 'Awadh Mohammed Ahmed al-Nairab; and

2. A 240-square-meter house, in which 4 people lived, owned by Sami Mohammed Taleb al-Zatma.

In the evening, medical sources at Shifa' Hospital in Gaza city informed that Mohammed Yousef Mohammed al-'Aaloul, 27, from Gaza city, succumbed to a wound he sustained last week. According to PCHR's investigation, Al-'Aaloul, a member of the Palestinian National Security Force, was wounded by a live bullet in the chest, when Israeli occupying forces invaded the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun on 23 February 2003, which left dead 7 Palestinians and rendered a number of houses destroyed.

At approximately 22:30, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Khan Yunis refugee camp. A Palestinian civilian, 'Ali Mohammed Abu Zarqa, was wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet in the eye.

Saturday, 1 March 2003

At approximately 12:30, Israeli occupying forces in a military location in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at residential areas and educational and medical institutions in the town. As a result of the 3-hour gunfire, 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded:

1. Huda Na'im Mahmoud Darwish, 11, critically wounded by a live bullet in the head while at school, approximately 900m away from the source of fire;

2. Jamil Mustafa Mohammed Jadallah, 16, wounded by shrapnel in the head while he was near his house; and

3. Ghaleb Ahmed Hassan Radwan, 21, wounded by shrapnel in the neck.

At approximately 20:00, Israeli forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved approximately 200m into al-Shouka neighborhood in the southeast of Rafah. They demolished a 150-square-meter, tin-roofed house, in which 8 people lived, owned by Slimi Zaidan Abu Shallouf, and razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted by olives and citrus owned by Salem 'Assir Abu Shallouf and farmed by Suleiman Abu Shallouf.

Sunday, 2 March 2003

At approximately 10:00, an Israeli undercover unit infiltrated Hindaza Mount in the south of Bethlehem. They surrounded the house of Salman and Khaled Mohammed Nawawra, 32 and 40 respectively. 15 minutes later, 8 Israeli military jeeps and two ambulances raided the area. They called through loudspeakers on the two brothers to get out of the house and surrender. Soon, the two brothers got out and surrendered. A Palestinian civilian, Bilal Khaled Sa'ad Kulaib, 18, passed by the area. Israeli soldiers fired at him, wounding him with a live bullet in the right foot.

At approximately 11:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with 6 heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, and covered by intense shelling, moved approximately 200m into Block L in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the Egyptian border. Two Palestinian civilians were wounded:

1. Ahmed Isma'il Suleiman Radwan, 17, wounded by shrapnel in the head; and

2. Meziad 'Adnan Joma'a Abu 'Armana, 18, wounded by shrapnel in the head and the left arm.

Israeli forces demolished 7 Palestinian houses in the area:

1. They totally demolished a 100-square-meter house, in which 8 people lived, owned by Khaled Jamal Ibrahim al-Tawil.

2. They totally demolished a 360-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 6 families counting 39 people lived, owned by Jamal Ibrahim Mousa al-Tawil.

3. They totally demolished a 270-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which two families counting 10 people lived, owned by 'Eissa Husni Hamdan Abu Taha.

4. They totally demolished a 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which two people lived, owned by Zainab Ibrahim 'Abdul Karim al-Sha'er.

5. They totally demolished a 200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which two families counting 6 people lived, owned by Qassem Ahmed Mohammed Hassanein.

6. They totally demolished an 80-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 5 people lived, owned by Yousef Ahmed Mohammed Hassanein.

7. They partially demolished a 160-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 10 people live, owned by Saleh Mohammed Salem al-'Arja.

At approximately 12:00, 5 Israeli heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, covered by intense gunfire, moved approximately 150m into al-Salam neighborhood in the south of Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border. They demolished two Palestinian houses:

1. A 234-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 11 people lived, owned by Nidal 'Abdullah Khamis al-'Emwasi; and

2. A 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 4 people lived, owned by 'Emad 'Ayada Abu 'Arar.

At approximately 18:00, medical sources at the European Hospital in Khan Yunis declared that 'Aziza D'ib al-Qassir, 50, from Rafah, succumbed to an injury she sustained by ruins of her house that was destroyed by Israeli occupying forces.

According to PCHR's investigation, at approximately 22:00 on Tuesday, 22 October 2002, around 20 Israeli heavy military vehicles, covered by indiscriminate shelling and supported by 3 combat helicopters, moved approximately 400m into al-Salam neighborhood in Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border. At approximately 23:00, Israeli soldiers broke into the house of Mahmoud Mohammed Jaber al-Qassir, father of Mohammed, 18, who was killed in armed attack on the "Kissufim" settlement, east of Deir al-Balah on 18 February 2002, after he had killed a number of Israeli soldiers and settlers. Israeli soldiers forced residents of the house out and destroyed it. As a result, the owner's wife, 'Aziza D'ib al-Qassir, 50, sustained serious injuries and fractures throughout the body, and 19 neighbors also sustained injuries and bruises, as Israeli soldiers ordered them to stay at home while they destroyed the house. She succumbed to her injuries at approximately 18:00 on Sunday, 2 March 2003.

Monday, 3 March 2003

In the morning, Israeli forces moved into the old town of Nablus. They seized control of a number of houses and schools and transformed them into military outposts. They also raided a number of houses. A number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers who fired back at the stone throwers, wounding 3:

1. Mohammed Samir Musbah Sharaf, 18, wounded by two rubber-coated metal bullets in the left shoulder and leg;

2. Sa'id Farid Walid Furaitakh, 14, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right leg; and

3. 'Omar 'Abdul Majid 'Aadel Qan'eir, 12, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg.

At approximately 15:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved approximately 100m into Block J in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the Egyptian border. Immediately, the bulldozer partially demolished a 150-square-meter house, in which 7 people live, owned by 'Aatef 'Abdul 'Aziz Yousef al-Ghouti.

At approximately 16:30, a tank and a military jeep, covered by intense gunfire, moved into al-Balawna neighborhood in Tulkarm. A number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who responded by firing at the stone throwers. Four boys were wounded:

1. Ahmed Saif Khader al-Hamshari, 14, critically wounded by a live bullet in the head;

2. Wahid Musbah Ahmed 'Anbas, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the back;

3. 'Abdullah 'Aahed Hassan 'Anbas, 14, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet; and

4. Eyad Khaled 'Abdul Fattah Abu al-Ghayab, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right thigh.

Tuesday, 4 March 2003

At approximately 12:40, a person in civilian clothes, who was holding a pistol, entered an internet café in Jenin. He fired 14 live bullets inside the café. Then, he got out, stood near an electricity tower near the café and made a phone call by his mobile phone. Two minutes later, a minibus with Palestinian license plates arrived. It stopped 7m away from the entrance of the café. Six persons in military uniforms got out of it and opened fire. Five minutes later, an Israeli tank and two military jeeps, supported by two combat helicopters, entered the area. Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire at passing Palestinian civilians, killing Hisham Mohammed Ahmed 'Awad 'Amru, 18, from Jenin, with a live bullet in the heart, and wounding 6 others civilians.

At approximately 17:30, an Israeli tank moved into Tulkarm. It was positioned east of Tulkarm refugee camp. A number of Palestinian civilians gathered approximately 200m away from the tank and threw stones at it. Israeli soldiers fired at the stone throwers, killing Bassel 'Ali Hassan 'Abbas, 26, who was deaf, with several live bullets in the chest and thighs. In addition, 3 other civilians were wounded, one of them critically.

At approximately 20:00, Israeli forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 100m into al-Salam neighborhood in the south of Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border. Immediately, they demolished a 220-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 3 families counting 18 people lived, owned by Ibrahim Mohammed Isma'il al-Habibi.