PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 16:40 on Monday, 3 July 2006, the body of Amani Yousef Mohammad El-Riqib (17) arrived at Naser Hospital in Khan Yunis. After examination, it was determined that the girl had been hit by a bullet to the head that had killed her instantly. The bullet hit the victim accidentally, while a gunman was firing shots in the air during her brother’s wedding. The victim was from the town of Bani Suheila, east of Khan Yunis. This is the second incident of its kind in less than ten days. On 25 June 2006, Anas Mohammad Khayri Abdel Jabbar Yassin (13) was hit by a bullet to the chest during a wedding in the village of Barqa. Read more about Security Chaos and Proliferation of Small Arms
PCHR condemns IOF military operations in the Gaza Strip and the targeting of infrastructure and civilian organizations, most notably educational institutions. The Centre calls upon the international community to work towards the immediate cessation of IOF war crimes against educational institutions in the Gaza Strip. The rocket targeted a student council office, destroying it completely. In addition, Atfaluna institution for children with hearing disabilities suffered damage as result of sonic booms. Read more about Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Bombard the Islamic University of Gaza for the Second Time in One Week
The risk of armed confrontation between the Palestinian resistance and Israeli occupying forces throughout the Gaza Strip has prompted Al-Haq to issue this appeal in order to ensure that armed Palestinian activists take into account the rules of international law. In order to rely on international law to give legitimacy to their resistance and struggle for self-determination, the Palestinian resistance movements must respect their obligations under international law, which regulates the conduct of combatants during war. Read more about Al-Haq's Appeal to Palestinian Political Parties and Armed Factions
Physicians for Human Rights-Israel decries the collective punishment that Israel is inflicting on the civilian punishment in the Gaza Strip � this kind of punishment is forbidden by International Law and by all reasonable moral standards. Over the past week, Israel has been attacking the civilian population of the Gaza Strip, using means that are in direct violation of international conventions that call to avoid indiscriminate harm to civilians. Moreover, Israel is committed under international law to actively protecting residents of the Gaza Strip from implications of the war and separating civilians and those involved in the fighting. Read more about Stop Collective Punishment in Gaza
At approximately 14:00 on Friday, 30 June 2006, the Criminal Investigations Department of the Rafah Police learned of the burial of Maha Akram El-Hamayda (18), after she had been killed in an “honor killing” crime. The police were able to determine the burial place in the eastern cemetery in Rafah. The father was summoned by the police and the body was removed and submitted to the pathology department of Naser Hospital in Khan Yunis. According to information from the police, the pathologist report indicates that the girl had suffered a beating with a sharp object to the head, causing extensive bleeding. Read more about Young Woman Killed in Rafah in an "Honor Killing"
At 11:51PM (Palestine time) on June 27th, Israel launched a large scale military assault on Gaza, as Israeli fighter planes carried out three airstrikes on Gazan bridges. Further strikes against Gazan power plants took place at 1:42AM, sending most of Gaza into darkness. At 2:24AM, Israeli forces began moving into Gaza to take control of the open areas east of Rafah. According to Israeli PM Ehud Olmert the aim of the invasion was “not to mete out punishment but rather to apply pressure so that the abducted soldier will be freed. We want to create a new equation — freeing the abducted soldier in return for lessening the pressure on the Palestinians.” Read more about Israel invades Gaza
Four Palestinians were killed and another six injured, including one child, during armed clan and personal disputes, which took place over the past 24 hours in Salfit, Beit Lahya and Rafah. The latest incident occurred at approximately 12:30 on Sunday, 2 July 2006, and resulted in the death of Zahir Salman Maharieqa (27) from the town of Deir Esteya near Salfit. He was in a barber shop in the El-Zaytoona building in the center of Salfit when Tha’er Suliman Madi, a 26-year-old resident of Salfit, fired at him. Read more about Four Palestinians Killed and Six Injured, including One Child, in Armed Clan and Personal Disputes
PCHR calls upon all governments and countries in the international community, especially the High Contracting Parties of the Geneva Conventions, United Nations bodies, and all international humanitarian organizations to intervene and take immediate steps to force IOF to allow the flow of basic goods, fuel, food, and medical supplies into the Gaza Strip. The Centre warns the international community of the consequences of the collective punishment imposed by IOF on the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. A food and health crisis now threatens more than 1.5 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Read more about PCHR Warns of a Humanitarian Crisis in the Gaza Strip
For the 4th consecutive day, IOF continue to conduct extensive air raids on different parts of the Gaza Strip. These raids targeted civilian and government property and installations, in an apparent attempt to eliminate the leadership of the Palestinian government. In addition, eight Cabinet Ministers, more than 20 Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) members, and a number of Hamas leaders in the West Bank are still detained, after they were kidnapped from their places of residence last Thursday. Read more about Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Intensify the Aggression of the Gaza Strip and Continue Reprisals against Palestinian Civilians
