From: SHLONSKY@uni2a.unige.ch
Subject: Killings in Palestine
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: University of Geneva, Switzerland
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 16:37:47 GMT

The office of Faisal Husseini in Jerusalem put out the following press
statement on April 2, 1992.
 
FIVE PALESTINIANS KILLED BY ISRAELI SECURITY FORCES ON APRIL 1, 1992.
 
In one of the bloodiest days since the beginning of the intifada,
Israeli security forces shot and killed at least five Palestinians
yesterday, 1 April 1992; four in Rafah refugee camp and one in the
village of Tarqumiyeh/Khalil.  More that 100 others were wounded
throughout the Occupied Territories, with the majority of injured from
Rafah.  These murderous actions come on the eve of the Eid al-Fitr
holiday, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan and bring back
memories of the killings in Jabalia Camp during the holiday three
years ago.
 
The events in Rafah led to the deaths of Mohammad Hamaydeh, 18, Ashraf
Abu Harb, 20, Majed Abu Zuhri, 17 and Iyyad Jazzar, 18.  There are
conflicting reports about the condition of Ibrahim Subuh, 22, who was
shot with six bullets to the upper body.  Some sources reported his
death, while others had him listed on the critically injured list.
We have been unable to confirm either due to the tight curfew clamped
on the camp.
 
According to eyewitnesses, press reports and sources in UNRWA, the
events began around 17:45 (Palestine Time) when a Border police Jeep
started to chase a Peugeot 404 car with Gazan plates.  It was believe
that youths wanted by the Israeli military authorities were in the
car.  When they reached the centeral market in Rafah RC, the residents
began stoning the jeep in an attempt to prevent the Border Guards from
arresting the youths.  At the time, the market was crowded with people
busy shopping in preparation for the Moslem holidays.  The Border
Guards immediately opened fire on the crowd.  Four people were on the
spot.  Eyewitnesses confirmed that the shooting was intense and
indiscriminate and reported tht the soliders appeared "hysterical".
In the ensuing clashes the fiereces in recent memeory, some 70 people
were shot.  it should be noted that none of the car's occupants were
arrested or shot.
 
UNRWA officials and residents insist that the army which participated
in the attack on the camp, severly impeded ambulances from reaching
the dead and wounded.  Even after 20:00, injured people were still
being evacuated to Nasser Hospital in Khan-Yunis.  A number of wounded
people were moved by the authorities to Tel- Hashomer Hospital near
Tel Aviv, after being taken from Nasser Hospital.
 
At the village of Tarqumiyeh, west of Khalil (Hebron), eyewitnesses
reported that Mohamed Ishmail Ja'afrah, 14, was shot in the heart and
killed while on his way to prayers at the Omari Mosque by an
undercover Israeli army unit.  Seven other Palestinians were injured
in the incident.  It appears that the unit, comprised of six soldiers
disguised as Arab men and women, entered from the mosque, got down
from the automobile and opened fire with their automatic weapons which
were concealed underneath their clothes.  Mohammed was 10-15 meters
away from the soldiers when he was shot in cold blood.  The army then
prevented two ambulances, one from the Red Crescent Society and the
other from the Patients Friends Society from entering the village.
Mohammad lay on the ground for at least one hour and bled to death,
before being taken away.
 
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