Another Palestinian succumbed on Monday to his gunshot wounds,
bringing to 68 the toll of Palestinians who were killed by the
Israeli Armed Forces during the recent clashes. The fighting broke
out on September 25, when Israeli soldiers opened fire on
stonethrowing Palestinian protestors. The demonstrators were
enraged by the latest Israeli provocation in Jerusalem and marched
on Israeli army checkpoints throughout the West Bank and Gaza. The
unarmed Palestinians were shot by the Israelis, prompting an armed
defence of the protestors by police members of the Palestinian
Authority. Fifteen Israeli soldiers were subsequently killed.
The Palestinian Health Ministry reports that 1,665 people were
injured during the clashes, of whom 1,000 had been shot either in
the head or chest. Many are still in danger of losing the battle
with their injuries. Of the 68 dead Palestinians, all but one were
killed by a bullet to the head or chest, over half by headshots.
The conclusion that can been drawn from this report is that
the Israeli occupation army was under orders to shoot to kill the
Palestinian demonstrators. This fact will have to be taken into
consideration as the Palestinian people prepare to defend
themselves and engage in further struggles for their rights.
Shawgi Tell
University at Buffalo
Graduate School of Education
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
