Israeli Army Bombs Palestinian Residential Areas

(Prepared by LAW - the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment)

February 12, 2001

For three days running the Israeli army bombed residential areas in Palestinian towns, especially Al Bireh. They bombed the Jinan and Satah Marhaba areas, the offices of Al Hayat Al Jadida newspaper, the headquarters of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and the Ministry of Local Governance.

According to LAW's documentation, at 10pm on 8 February 2001 Israeli soldiers stationed at Pisagot (a settlement built on Jabal Al Taweel east of Al Bireh) began bombing the Jinan and Satah Marhaba areas. The bombing went on until 3am the next day, causing the following damage:

* The home of 50 year-old Abdul Salam Al Adasi and his family of fifteen (including three children) was burnt down.

* The home of 28 year-old Mustafa Abdul Kadir and his family of six (including four children). The furniture, entrance, windows and electricity and water system were all destroyed.

* The home of 32 year-old Salah Daragmi and his family of five (including three children) was bombed, destroying the balcony, windows and doors and severely damaging the walls.

* The Al Wahidi building, which contains 15 separate apartments, was hit and the walls, roof and sewage system partially destroyed

* The offices of Al Hayat Al Jadida newspaper were also targeted, destroying three windows, two doors and a printing press. In the editorial suite, six windows, three PCs, a stone pillar, the newspaper sign and the lights were destroyed.

* The Palestinian Red Crescent headquarters and emergency room was also bombed, burning part of the top floor and destroying the furniture and equipment contained within. The PRC minibus, used for transporting the handicapped, was also destroyed, as were three water tanks and the telephone system.

Israeli forces had already bombed the same places on Wednesday 7 February. On 9 February, they bombed residential areas in Al Balo'a, northern Al Bireh, severely damaging the Ministry of Local Governance building, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, and the Fateh High Command offices.

According to LAW's documentation of the incident, Israeli forces used more than 15 artillery shells as well as machineguns in their attacks on the Ministry of Local Governance and Fateh offices. The 5th floor of the Ministry of Local Governance building was burnt down, its eastern façade partially destroyed and the water and electricity systems destroyed completely. The repairs have been estimated by the city engineer as more costly than rebuilding the building in its entirety. This was the 15th time that Israeli forces have bombed the Ministry of Local Governance building since 29 September 2000.

The 1949 IV Geneva Convention and its Additional Protocols prohibit attacking civilians and civilian properties, as well as acts of violence or threats aimed at terrorizing civilians. Article 33 of the IV Geneva Convention stipulates:

"No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited. Pillage is prohibited. Reprisal against protected persons and their property are prohibited." Article 53 prohibits destroying property, stating:

"Any destruction by the Occupying Power of real or personal property belonging individually or collectively to private persons, or to the State, or to other public authorities, or to social or cooperative organizations, is prohibited, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations."

Article 51 of Protocol 1 (Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions) prohibits attacking civilians. Articles 18, 19, and 20 of the IV Geneva Convention prohibit attacking hospitals and medical centres.

LAW demands:

* The Israeli Government to immediately stop the use of excessive and indiscriminate force and collective punishments against Palestinian civilians.

* The establishment of an international investigation committee based on United Nations Security Council resolutions 1322 of Oct 7, 2000, to investigate the violations of international humanitarian law committed by the Israeli forces inside the occupied Palestinian territories.

* The international community must hold a conference for the High Contracting Parties of the Fourth Geneva Convention in order to take practical measures to ensure Israel's adherence to the convention.

* The international community must pressurize Israel to immediately to immediately put an end to the occupation of the Palestinian territories and effectively support the implementation of the Palestinian right to self-determination.