Eight killed
today in assassination of Hamas leaders in Nablus
Tuesday 31 July 2001
At 1:50 pm today an Israeli combat helicopter fired three missiles at the Islamic Studies Center run by Jamal Mansour. The Center is situated in a five-story residential building on Al Sika Road in Nablus. The missiles were apparently fired in an attempt to assassinate Hamas leaders.
The attack caused the deaths of the following Hamas leaders and journalists present in the office for a press conference at the time:
Also killed in the attack were two young brothers;
from Jdaida village near Jenin, who were visiting Nablus with their mother and happened to be passing the building that was shelled at the time of the attack.
Seven other people were wounded; three of whom are in serious condition.
This crime is part of Israel’s escalating assassination policy, which is condemned throughout the world as a grave violation of international laws and conventions. However, international and Arab condemnation seems insufficient to stop Ariel Sharon’s government and army from carrying out state-sponsored assassinations of Palestinians. Israel used a variety of measures for these assassinations to date, including US-manufactured aircrafts, tanks, explosives planted in vehicles and telephone booths, ambushes and snipers.
The number of victims of Israel’s extra-judicial executions has risen to 47 including bystanders. This official Israeli government policy is a grave violation of the 1949 IVth Geneva Convention and its additional Protocols, and as such is considered a war crime.
LAW Society demands the following:
