Israel continues
attacks on Khan Yunis, killing 5
Palestinians
Report, PCHR, 30 December
2004
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| A Palestinian resident of
Khan Yunis walking towards destroyed buildings in the town.
(Ronald de Hommel) |
Since the early
morning on Thursday, 30 December 2004, Israeli Occupation Forces
(IOF) have killed 5 Palestinians, including a child and a disabled
young man, and have injured 11 Palestinian civilians, including 3
children and a woman. IOF have also destroyed a number of houses.
These attacks have been launched during an ongoing offensive by IOF
on Khan Yunus refugee camp and al-Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis.
PCHR believes that the intensive presence of IOF in these
areas can cause more casualties among Palestinian civilians. It is
worth noting that this latest offensive has been the third of its
kind against Khan Yunis in 13 days, in which 19 Palestinians have
been killed, dozens of others have been injured and at least 60
houses have been destroyed.
According to preliminary
investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 00:00 on
Thursday, 30 December 2004, IOF, reinforced by heavy military
vehicles and supported by drones, moved into Khan Yunis refugee camp
and al-Amal neighborhood in the west of Khan Yunis. Under the cover
of indiscriminate shelling, IOF ordered Palestinian civilians to
vacate their houses and they did.
IOF raided a number of
houses in al-Amal neighborhood and transformed their roofs into
military sites. Soon, a number of members of the Palestinian
resistance clashed with IOF in Khan Yunis refugee camp. One members
of the resistance, Yahia Joma'a Abu Bakra, 32, was killed by a live
bullet in the chest during these clashes. Nearly half an hour later,
the Israeli air force fired a missile at a number of members of the
Palestinian resistance who were near Haroun al-Rashid School in
al-Amal neighborhood. One member of the resistance, Sami Mohammed
Khudair, 20, was killed by shrapnel throughout the body, and 2
civilians, including a child, were injured.
At approximately
01:30, 'Ammar Salem 'Arar, 21, was killed when the Israeli air force
fired a missile at him when he attempted to cross a street in Khan
Yunis refugee camp. The victim was a member of the Palestinian
resistance, but was not in a combating position when he was killed.
At approximately 07:30, IOF shelled Palestinian houses in
al-Amal neighborhood. A Palestinian child, 14-year-old Mohammed
Yahia Abu al-Sa'id, was killed by shrapnel throughout the body when
he was near his house. At approximately 10:30, IOF shelled the same
area again. A mentally disabled Palestinian civilian, Ahmed Mohammed
Touman, 20, was killed by 4 live bullets in the neck and the chest.
As a result of the indiscriminate shelling by IOF, 9 Palestinian
civilians, including 2 children and a woman, have been injured.
PCHR is gravely concerned for escalation of attacks by IOF
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), especially in the Gaza
Strip. PCHR warns of retaliatory acts against Palestinian civilians
and property, which violate international law and international
humanitarian law.
PCHR also reminds the international
community the IOF violate the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949
Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, in
particular article 33 which prohibits collective punishment. PCHR
reiterates its call for the High Contracting Parties to the
Convention to fulfill their legal obligations to ensure respect for
the Convention and take effective steps to stop grave breaches of
the Convention perpetrated by IOF in the OPT.
Related
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