Israeli forces kill three Palestinians in extra-judicial execution

Palestinians try to pull out a body after Israeli strike (Photo: Al-Jazeera, 2004)

Bystanders douse the smouldering car with sand (Photo: Al-Jazeera, 2004)

Today, Wednesday 3 March 2004, Israeli air forces launched an attack on a car traveling south of Gaza city.  Three Palestinians were killed and two were injured in the attack. PCHR condemns this latest extrajudicial execution as a grave breach of international humanitarian law.

According to preliminary investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 14:20 this afternoon Israeli aircraft fired one missile at a Palestinian car, a white Mitsubishi, traveling eastward from Sheikh ‘Ajleen neighbourhood south of Gaza city, towards el Sabra neighourhood, southeast of Gaza city.  Part of the land in the Sheikh ‘Ajleen neighbourhood has been effectively forcibly annexed to the illegal settlement of Netzarim, located immediately south of Gaza city.

The missile struck the car in which three people were traveling.  The three were killed instantly.  The vehicle was completely destroyed.  Two civilians who were walking in the street near the car as the missile struck sustained moderate injuries.  The deceased were identified as; ‘Ammar Hassan, 23, from El Mughraga neighbourhood; and Ibrahim el Deiri, 32, from El Sabra neighbourhood, Gaza city; Traad el Jammal, 24, from el Shejyaia neighbourhood, Gaza city.

All three were reportedly members of Izz el Din el Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas.  Today’s extrajudicial execution is the third such attack in five days.  Four Palestinians have been killed in these three attacks.

PCHR condemns today’s extrajudicial execution which is the latest in the Israeli government-sanctioned policy of assassinating individual Palestinians whom they allege are involved in attacks against Israeli targets.  The willful killing of a protected person constitutes a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention.  PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfil their legal obligations to ensure respect for the Convention in the OPTs, and to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches of the Convention.

Related Links

  • Israel’s Assassination Policy