16 - 22 January, 2003

Israeli occupying forces have perpetrated more illegal actions and human rights violations against Palestinian civilians, including willful killings, shelling of and incursions into Palestinian areas, house demolitions, and agricultural land leveling. This week, from 16-22 January 2003, 3 Palestinians, including 2 civilians, were killed by Israeli forces.

This week, Israeli occupying forces moved into several areas in the Gaza Strip. They razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land and demolished a number of houses and civilian facilities. They razed more than 150 donums of Palestinian agricultural land, most of which was planted with olives. They also demolished 6 Palestinian houses totally in Rafah and Beit Lahia, and partially demolished 9 others in Rafah.

In the West Bank, in the context of their policies of destroying Palestinian economic and civilian facilities, on Tuesday and Wednesday, 21 and 22 January 2003, Israeli occupying forces demolished 62 Palestinian shops in Nazlat ‘Eissa village in Tulkarm, which provided sources of living for dozens of Palestinian families.

In an apparent willful killing, on Saturday afternoon, 18 January 2003, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian civilian in Rafah, while he was on the roof of his house. ‘Abdul Fattah ‘Orabi Hassan Mansour, 35, from Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip, was on the roof of his house repairing its water tanks, which were damaged by repeated gunfire by Israeli forces at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. As soon as Israeli soldiers on a military observation tower, at the iron wall recently established along the border opposite to Rafah refugee camp, saw him they shot him dead with a live bullet in the back from a distance of approximately 150m. 3 other Palestinians, including a child, died from previous injuries they sustained by Israeli occupying forces in the current Intifada.

In violation of international law and 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 the Israeli forces. In this context, they destroyed 5 houses in Hebron, Jenin and Bethlehem.

This week, Israeli settlers from settlements in Hebron attacked Palestinian civilians and their property, especially in the old town, the center of the town and Wadi al-Baqa’a and al-Bweira neighborhoods. These attacks took place before the eyes of Israeli forces and police. Six Palestinian civilians were wounded, including two who were in serious condition, windows and doors of 25 houses were destroyed, more than 10 cars were destroyed or damaged and areas of agricultural land and water sources were damaged.

Israeli forces have maintained the total siege imposed on the OPTs, collectively punishing the Palestinian people. Israeli forces have partitioned Palestinian areas, transforming them into cantons, violating Palestinian civilians’ economic, social and cultural rights. They have also imposed curfews on several different areas. This week, Israeli occupying authorities continued to prevent Palestinians aged 16-35 from traveling abroad.

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