arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

Though we faxed all of the media outlets in Jerusalem with this info, we have yet to see it reported, except in passing on CNN -- "teenage boy killed in a refugee camp in Nablus." What doesn't cease to amaze me is how journalists can ignore something like the systematic opening of live fire and using tanks against unarmed civilians and children. Our activists in Jenin are having to follow soldiers around daily and stand in between them and Palestinian children -- to keep the soldiers from firing on children. We don't have enough activists here to be everywhere, but where is the international community and the humanity of the world? --- Huwaida

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INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT

July 10, 2002

For Immediate Release

ISRAELI SOLDIERS KILL PALESTINIAN CHILD "BREAKING CURFEW"
Two other children injured

[NABLUS] International activists arrived at the scene of another gruesome attack on children by the Israeli army.

At 12:30 this afternoon in Al Askar refugee camp soldiers shot from an Israeli tank at youth and children killing one and injuring two. This was apparently another "confusion" regarding the lifting and reimposition of curfew, in which Israeli soldiers felt they had to shoot unarmed civilians because they were in their streets.

Rami al Katash, age 17, shot in the neck and face has died. Madi Fadel, age 13, was shot in the leg and Sami al Remawy, age 11, sustained shrapnel wounds to the head.

The wounded have been taken to Al Ittiihad Hospital in Nablus.

For more information contact:

Niklas Eriksson 972 (0)67 350 512

Dr. Ghassan Hamdam UPMRC 972 (0)52 844 608

For more information on the International Solidarity Movement contact:

Huwaida Arraf 972 (0)52 642 709

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Ha'aretz 11/07/02
Thursday, July 11, 2002
Probe faults soldiers in killing of baby, mother
By Amos Harel

A preliminary investigation by the Israel Defense Forces into the death of a Palestinian woman and her young daughter, near the settlement of Netzarim in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, has revealed the Israeli soldiers acted in contravention of open-fire regulations.

The IDF is assuming the two were killed by Israeli fire although this has not been established unequivocally.

Randa al-Hindi, 42, and her daughter, 2-year-old Nur, were traveling on the road from Khan Yunis to Gaza City after visiting family. Just south of Gaza, at a point close to Netzarim, the two were hit by light-weapons fire.

In contacts with the IDF, the Palestinian security forces gave contradictory reports concerning the death of the two. First they spoke of tank fire but this report was found to be baseless. The latest Palestinian report talks of Israeli fire being aimed at the car in which the two were traveling. The mother, who was driving, apparently lost control of the vehicle and the two were killed.

A preliminary investigation carried out by Col. Yoel Strick, regional battalion commander, revealed a group of Givati soldiers stationed in a position west of the settlement opened fire at two suspicious-looking men, getting out of a vehicle between Netzarim and the Palestinian coastal road. The soldiers had received a warning that an attempt would be made to attack them in that area - similar to an earlier one in which one of their comrades was seriously wounded - and suspected it was being mounted. They fired warning shots but did not notice a hit. The assumption is that they missed the two men and hit the vehicle with the mother and baby instead.

The investigation found the firing had been unnecessary. Even though the two men appeared suspicious to the soldiers, they were not carrying arms and therefore did not pose a threat to their lives. The warning shots also were not aimed at a suitable spot - which has to be a safe distance from Palestinian civilians.

The findings will be presented this week to GOC Southern Command Doron Almog. The IDF will meanwhile have to decide if disciplinary measures will be taken against the soldiers and the military judge-advocate will examine whether to launch a military police investigation.

Meanwhile the judge-advocate has ordered a military police investigation into the deaths from Israeli fire of three Palestinian children and an adult in Jenin last month. They were hit by tank fire when they left their homes to buy food, mistakenly thinking the curfew had been lifted.

An investigation of the incident in the Central Command revealed the tank crew had made serious mistakes and that its fire against civilians was unwarranted.

Your guys would be more effective following the kamikaze murderers of children and "stand in between them and Israeli children". At least that would be a sign of real courage!
And indeed, there are much less Israeli soldiers killing on purpose children (if any at all!) than Palestinian "activists".