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Israeli forces invade Khan Yunis and Beit Hanoun

Palestinian Center for Human Rights 12 January 2003

In a further escalation of Israeli illegal military actions against Palestinian civilians and property, Israeli occupying forces invaded Khan Yunis and Beit Hanoun last night and this morning and destroyed a Palestinian house and 8 civilian facilities. They indiscriminately shelled these areas killing two Palestinians and wounding 13 others, two of whom were left in a serious condition. Some other houses and civilian facilities were severely damaged. 

Crossing Kalandia

Anne Gwynne Nablus 12 January 2003


Kalandia is not a checkpoint in any recognized sense of the word ‘checkpoint’, which is commonly understood to be a place where documents and goods are checked, and through which people and goods are inspected in order to facilitate passage. Everything at ground level in the whole landscape is torn-up, demolished, cleared into piles of rubble, worn out, collapsing, never repaired — I cannot find adequate words. Anne Gwynne writes about Kalandia, with an introduction by EI’s Nigel Parry. 

Email from Saffuriyya: "Where are you from?"

Jonathan Cook Nazareth, the Galilee 12 January 2003

“It is a reflex question for Palestinians, always posed early in the Arab greeting ritual, to ask a stranger, even another Palestinian, ‘Where are you from?’ before enquiring: ‘Where do you live?’ Few Palestinians live where they feel they belong. ” Jonathan Cook introduces us to a new generation of Saffuriyeen who are keeping their ties to the destroyed town of Saffuriyya strong and vibrant. 

U.S. pressures Israel to probe crimes against Palestinians

Philip Jacobson 12 January 2003

Israel’s military authorities have approached human rights organisations operating in the West Bank and Gaza to help with investigations into crimes committed by their troops against Palestinian civilians. Philip Jacobson reports on some unprecedented developments, due in no small part to the efforts of the family of Shaden Abu Hijleh, murdered by the IDF last fall. 

Children shot in Askar Refugee Camp

Anne Gwynne Nablus, Palestine 11 January 2003

Oshan Abdul Aziz Shanier was shot by a single bullet to the heart and died instantly. He was 22 years old, born in a refugee camp in his own land, died in a refugee camp in his own land, killed by a soldier who is illegally in his country contravening all the relevant International Laws and Conventions. No warnings here, no mercy. No normal human decency. Shoot to kill. Anne Gwynn writes from Nablus. 

IDF's murder of Palestinian grandmother tests Israeli justice system

Nicole Gaouette 10 January 2003

“In Nablus, where the Abu Hijleh house echoes with a new emptiness, the family is determined that Shaden not become another nameless statistic. For some of her children, this means resisting the Palestinian glorification of martyrdom. For her family and friends, it means pursuing some measure of justice. That mission began minutes after the bullets flew.” The Christian Science Monitor’s Nicole Gaouette reports on one family’s attempts to challenge Israeli impunity in the international media—and at the International Criminal Court. 

Potential "Free Jaggi" Campaign thankfully averted

10 January 2003

As pro-Palestinian activists weighed how they should spend their coming weekend — writing to Congress to note the over 50 Palestinians killed in December, faxing the UN to protest the lack of action over the Israeli murder of aid worker Iain Hook with sniper scopes in broad daylight, or holding felafel bake sales to raise money to feed the Gazan children because of the Israeli starvers — many breathed a silent ‘thank fuck’ as Canadian activist Jaggi Singh was released from Israeli detention. BNN’s Najeeb Al-Anbarri reports from Qatar.