INDEPENDENT NEWS

Israeli Terror Campaign continues West Bank/Gaza

Published: Mon 19 May 2003 11:41 PM
The Israeli Terror Campaign continues in West Bank and Gaza
As the terror campaign against the Palestinians continue by the Israeli occupying forces (IOF), Israeli troops killed a Palestinian child and wounded 14 others north of Gaza Strip. IOF also deported a Palestinian detainee from Jenin to Gaza Strip and demolished four houses in Rafah.
In the Gaza Strip, medical sources mentioned that 13-year old Khaled Ziyad Naser, from Jabalya refugee camp, was shot dead by IOF today. Hospital officials in Gaza City told IPC correspondent that the X-ray photos of Naser showed multiple wounds all over his body, caused by heavy caliber bullets.
"This indicates that Naser was a target of random and heavy fire from the Israeli forces at Palestinian civilians," Dr. Moaweya Hasanein, director of emergency and reception at Al Shifa hospital said.
Along with Naser, 14 other citizens arrived at the hospital, suffering from different wounds, which emphasizes on Dr. Hasanein's assumptions.
Most of the wounded citizens were children under the age of 15, such as Belal Abu Namous, 9, who laid on a bed in the emergency room, with blood-soaked bandages wrapped around both of his skinny legs.
Mohammed Abu Namous, Belal's father, said that his son was just standing outside the house when the shooting happened. He reaffirmed that there were no Palestinian gunmen present at the area, and the situation was absolutely calm.
Mr. Abu Namous statement was stressed on by the General Security Directorate spokesman in Gaza Strip, who asserted that there were no shots fired from the Palestinian side prior to the Israeli shooting.
Dr. Awni Tarazi, who treated the child, said that Abu Namous wounds, as most of the 14 citizens who arrived at the hospitals, were targeting bones, nerves and major arteries in the legs.
"I can certainly confirm, based on the injuries profile, that the target of the shooting was to cause handicaps, broken bones and even fatal hemorrhages," Dr. Tarazi added.
Meanwhile, in the southern city of Rafah, four other families joined the homeless community, which is growing rather rapidly in this once-flourishing border town. IOF bulldozers demolished four homes in the Area of "Al Sho'ut". The bewailed families stood on top of what was once their homes, digging between the rubble and trying to salvage as much furniture and memories they had in these houses.
"I'm having trouble believing what happened till now," said Atef Al Ghouti, who owned one of the four demolished houses. "We didn't have a tunnel underneath our house, we don't harbor freedom fighters who shoot at Israeli military posts, and we don't have 'wanted' people for the Israelis… Why did they do that? What is their excuse now for tearing down my house, which I spent 25 years of my youth saving every penny I earned to build? Why?" Al Ghouti shouted in front of several reporters and journalists who were covering the demolition.
Israeli military spokesperson said that "these houses were demolished for 'security reasons' that cannot be discussed here in detail."
In a recent development of events, the Israeli house-demolition rampage moved northwards to the town of Beit Hanun, which witnessed a savage aggression that is in its 5th day on a row. Israeli bulldozers tore down another four houses in Beit Hanun, according to IPC correspondent in North Gaza.
On the other hand, Israeli occupying authorities deported a Palestinian detainee, Mahmoud Al Sa'adi "Al Saffouri" from his hometown, Jenin, to Gaza Strip, security sources mentioned.
Al Sa'adi was held at an Israeli detention center in the West Bank, and was then deported under heavy security procedures to the Erez Checkpoint "North Gaza Crossing", where he was handed to the Palestinian side.
Worthy saying that since the outbreak of Al Aqsa Intifada in September 2000, the Israeli occupying authorities have deported more than 40 Palestinians from their homes, families and businesses, whether to areas inside the Palestinian territories or to other countries.
On both sides, this action is strictly prohibited and was considered an outrageous violation of international humanitarian laws by many Palestinian and international lawmakers

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