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AMNESTY International: Killing Palestinian Children Must be Investigated |
Current rating: 0 |
by Concerned
(No verified email address) |
26 May 2004
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GAZA, May 26, 2004, – Amnesty international called Tuesday, in a statement, for an impartial investigation to be carried out into the recent killing of Palestinian children by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) in the Gaza Strip city of Rafah. |
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“Amnesty International is calling on the Israeli authorities to ensure that a thorough, independent and impartial investigation is promptly carried out into the killing of two Palestinian children by members of the Israeli army in recent days in the Gaza Strip”, the statement said.
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. The statement added that Sixteen-year-old Asma al-Mughayr and her 13-year-old brother Ahmad were shot dead within minutes of each other on the roof-terrace of their home in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah on the morning of 18 May 2004.
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Each was killed by a single bullet in the head, Asma while taking clothes off the drying line and her brother Ahmad while feeding the pigeons.
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Amnesty reiterated that ”All available information indicate that the bullets which killed the two children were fired from the top floor of a nearby house, the highest building in the area, which had been taken over by Israeli soldiers shortly before the two children where shot”.
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Amnesty International spoke with several foreign journalists who visited the al-Mughayrs' house and the nearby house which was being used by Israeli soldiers at the time and reviewed photos taken by them. In the nearby house the journalists found an empty Israeli army ammunition box, spent bullet cases and leftovers from Israeli army food rations next to the holes which Israeli soldiers had pierced in the walls of the house to use as sniper positions. The pictures taken by the journalists show that there was a clear view of the al-Mughayrs' roof-terrace, where the two children were killed.
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. Amnesty rejected the Israeli allegation saying” Israeli army officials have alleged that the children may have been killed by an explosive device set by Palestinians.
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However, the photos taken by the journalists show bullet holes on the clothes hanging on the drying line, on the satellite dish and on the wall; they did not show any damage which could have been caused by an explosion or by shrapnel from an explosion”.
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”According to the children's family only single gunshots were heard when the children were killed and no explosions were reported at the time. Also according to the family, Ahmad ran downstairs to call for help after his sister Asma was shot in the head; he was shot in the head as he re-emerged from the staircase onto the roof-terrace”, Amnesty said.
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”In light of the pattern of inadequate investigations or lack of investigations into unlawful killings by the Israeli army of hundreds of Palestinians, including hundreds of children, in the past three and a half years, Amnesty International urges the Israeli authorities: to ensure that a thorough, independent and impartial investigation is promptly carried out by judicial authorities; that the scope, methods and findings of the investigation be made public; and that those responsible for these killings are brought to justice”, Amnesty concluded.
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This work is in the public domain |
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Tens of Students were Injured and Suffered Suffocation in Hebron |
by Kiefer
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
26 May 2004
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Officials at Dora emergency centre revealed that tens of schoolchildren were shot with rubber-coated metal bullets and suffered suffocation due to inhaling large amount of tear gas when Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) attacked the school complex in the village.
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Headmistress of Dar al-Salam secondary school, Fatmah Abu Ketta, said that more than 30 students suffered suffocation as Israeli soldiers lobbed tear gas canisters at the classes and hallways.
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She added that Israeli soldiers broke into the school, shot stun grenades, causing a horrible state of panic among the girls, forcing them to evacuate the school under gun threat. |
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Tear Gas or Mass Killing Weapon |
by Beit Lahia
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
26 May 2004
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while trying to avoid the hails of bullets coming from the Israeli tanks recently incurring into Beit Lahia City. Though she managed to find a shelter from shooting behind sandy heaps, a lethal weapon called "Tear Gas" tracked them leaving the petite Asma' lifeless.... Asma' Abu Qleiq 4, was killed on April 22, the same day on which another 11-year-old girl was shot dead by Israeli troops which stormed al-Nada neighborhood of Beit Lahia, north of Gaza. Asma' died of inhaling a poisonous gas lobbed at her by Israeli soldiers.... At a very humble house, in a very modest village, whose inhabitants are mostly Bedouins, Abu Qleiq's house is located 300 meters from the fence of Nisaneet Israeli colony. At that house, Asma' spent her sweetest four years among her beloved family.... Visiting her at this humble house, Um Selmi narrated how the murder took place: "I was at my brother's house, we heard of an Israeli incursion into al-Nada neighbourhood. Two hours later, there was news of Israeli retreat to Nisaneet Israeli colony. Therefore, I decided to go home so as to take care of my children, to keep them in, lest they should, out of curiosity, leave the house to watch what is going on in al-Nada area".... Going back home, Um Selmi had to pass through the only way linking Um al-Nasser Village to al-Nada area. "It is such an uneven dusty way", Um Selmi said, "in order to reach home, I had to pass through the road linking al-Nada neighbourhood to Um al-Nasser Village. Covering more than half of the way, I was surprised on seeing 3 tanks moving toward me, there were also some stone-throwers," Um Selmi said, "the tanks opened heavy fire at every moving thing. Two children were instantly wounded; someone who came to help them was also wounded.... Such scenes were very shocking to Um Selmi, as she never saw a little child shot wounded or dead before her eyes.... Um Selmi went on saying "I was so scared, expecting a bullet or a rocket hitting my little daughter, I hid behind a sandy heap, but the soldiers were watching, they lobbed gas canisters at us, it was such a killing gas. Gas chocked me and I excessively coughed, my eyes were in tears because of it." She continued, "I embraced Asma', and struggled to run away but in vain, because of the sandy bumpy way. Frankly, I was about to surrender to death, but remembering my helpless Asma', I did my best in order to flee".... "Reaching a safer place, I checked Asma', she was unconscious, I cried realizing that something wrong has happened to her" she said tremblingly, "I cried on and on uselessly, without anyone to help, because of the heavy shooting from the tanks. After harsh affliction, I finally managed to reach the house to find my son Selmi, who took Asma' and headed to "Balsam Hospital", close to Um al-Nasser Village". Um Selmi said falling in tears.... Asma's brother, Selmi Abu Qleiq 18, said that he found his mother carrying Asma' and crying, when he asked her what the matter was, she desperately said your sister died.... "I was sitting with some of my neighbours, I noticed my mother carrying Asma' and hurriedly coming toward me, she told me your sister died. I did not recognize what was going on. Instinctively, I took Asma from my mother and dashed out to the hospital", Selmi described while he was writing Asma's name on the sand with a stick.... After initial diagnosis in Balsam medical center, Asma' was directly transferred to Kamal 'Odwan Hospital in Beit Lahia. Despite her bad health condition, due to inhaling large amount of gas, Um Selmi managed to reach 'Odwan Hospital. Reaching there, she found her child lifeless.... "A doctor came out of the room where Asma was, asking about her relatives, I told him I am her mother, he passionately looked at me and said "I am sorry, your daughter has passed away", she hysterically repeated it many times with tearful eyes and a sobbing voice, adding "Asma' enjoyed a very good health, she has never been to hospitals but for vaccination".... Asma' was the doll of the house, the entire family madly loved her for her lark-like spirit. To her father, she was the one who turns his blues into whites.... Ali Abu Qleiq 52, Asma's father said that Asma' was mad about him, she used to play with her handmade doll "Karam" which she named after her 2-year-old nephew Karam.... "To me, Asma' was everything, she used to take my wallet and pick one Sheqel (NIS), she used to give her sister Maleeha 10, half of it and spend the other half. I don not know how we will continue our life without Asma' , Ali said trying to forbear from crying.... On his part, Selmi said that he had a special relation with Asma' as he would spend most of his spare time playing with her. He added that the Israeli shooting always frightened Asma'; when it was to fall on her ears, she would rush into her mother's lap seeking a refuge.... "The main reason behind Asma's fear of the shooting is the injury of her elder sister Maleeha. She was shot, last year, in the head, while she was playing with her friends. Maleeha suffers permanent mental and psychological troubles", Selmi added.... The impact of Asma's loss appears at Um Selmi's features. She scarcely leaves Asma's room, always holding her picture, putting it against the bosom, as Asma' used to.... "Asma' is always with me, she has not gone, I talk to her every moment, and she sleeps in my lap as she used to, no body can believe it, Asma' is alive", Um Selmi said hysterically, looking at Asma's latest picture, shortly before Selmi took her out of the room.... According to medical sources, Asma' died 5 minutes after inhaling an the gas.... Mahomoud al-'Assali, director of Kamal 'Odwan Hospital, said that Asma' died of inhaling a "mysterious gas".... Villagers of Um al-Nasser said that Israeli soldiers shot different kinds of gas with different colours; red, blue, black and white gases. They also added that this gas burns the grass and turns it into ashes.... This is what Israel calls "Tear Gas". This gas is lethal and internationally banned, being used against the Palestinian people. Many children and adults died due to inhaling it. Israel is still claiming that it is only used to disperse confrontations, and it is not harmful. "Tear Gas", After Asma's, and others', murders, we can realize why Israel calls it so, simply because it brings tears to the eyes of Asma's and other children's mothers. It is called "Tear Gas" because it makes Um al-Nasser Village shed tears over the loss of its flower, |
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Israeli Bullets Rip Apart A Little Girl’s Dreams |
by Mona
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
26 May 2004
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Mona Abu Tabaq, who was slaughtered by Israeli soldiers, in the city of Beit Lahya, north of the Gaza Strip.... On the afternoon of April 22, following three days of an Israeli campaign of killing and destruction in Beit Lahya, media outlets have broadcast that Israeli troops pulled out from the city. This led Mona's parents to allow their little girl to leave home to buy some candy.... Hamdi Abu Tabaq, 42, the father of Mona, was repairing his newly rented house, in the neighbourhood of Izbit Beit Hanoun, adjacent to Beit Lahya, when Mona asked him some spare change to buy her favourite cookies.... Craving for it, Mona went to the grocery store. Castor trees and rust metal panels lay bare along the flanks of the dusty road.... As Mona was leaving home, intensive gunfire from the Israeli forces shook the silence of the calm neighbourhood.... Minutes later, Mona’s elder brother, Hazem, 18, with his face red and glaring yelled, "Mom…daaaad…they killed Mona! They killed Mona!".... An Israeli tank hiding behind a hill shot heavy bullets at Mona. She was hit in the abdomen and died in the operation room of Kamal O'dwan Hospital in Beit Lahya.... Eyewitness, Hussam al-Tloli, 18, told WAFA that he saw Mona as he was coming from the opposite direction, when the echo of Israeli gunshots filled the place in the adjacent al-Nada neighbourhood.... "Mona and I were the only persons at the corner of building number 8,” al-Tloli said, “everything was calm and serene, she was chatting with a girl on a balcony when an Israeli tank opened fire at us, we ran away from the direction of shooting. I looked at the girl; she was looking at me as she was feeling the right side of her waist. I did not realize that she was wounded.... "I will never forget her begging eyes; they were crying for help. Her head and body slumped and eyes slowly shut. I tried to carry her but my hand slipped into her waist. I was shocked to see her navy pullover shredded and socked with blood. I began crying, demanding help when an ambulance was in the area. A brave paramedic came dodging amid intensive fire and carried the girl away," al-Tloli added.... The Mother, Shifa 41, was baking bread when her beloved daughter was slaughtered.... She told WAFA: "Minutes after echoes of bullets filed the area, my son Hazem was so terrified, his face turning pale he said: Mom, they killed Mona, they killed Mona", collapsing into tears.... In the hospital the mother and the father were waiting at the door of the operation room. The medics first asked the father to come in and after awhile they took the mother in. Shifa was shocked to see her husband weeping while friends and neighbours were consoling him. She soon realized that her sweet daughter has "gone with the wind". As the mother stood against a wall, her knees gave in and slowly she fell down. Her relatives carried her out.... Mona liked painting. She always dreamt to be an advocate. Every morning her mother used to comb her hair in a bun as Mona protested. She always liked to wear her trousers with the coloured butterfly on the leg.... "Mom, raise the bun higher and make the hair-pin and ribbon more obvious please… have you ironed the butterfly trousers?" two sentences Mona used to repeat every morning before leaving for school, the mother recalls.... Her parents prevented Mona from going to school as they were afraid of Israeli gunfire. Nevertheless, she insisted on putting on her favourite trousers, the ones with the coloured butterfly.... "They killed her and killed every thing. She will never paint again… the butterfly and her dreams were buried with her, "Mona's mother said as tears were streaming down her sad face.... Her father, Hamdi, was distraught to express his "big loss" and to recall her innocence.... "I was doing some repairs to the house when Hazem rushed in crying that Mona was shot. I dashed to hospital," he said, "those were painful moments as I stood by the door of the operation theatre for three hours which were as long and heavy as three centuries." "I lost every thing, miss her innocent smile, her laugh, she used to mimic her teacher, the speech, dialects , movements and gestures, she was very sweet and funny," Hamdi said with tearful eyes.... Mona's older sister Nivin, 16, will never forget the kiss Mona gave her before she left.... "It was the last kiss, she stopped at the door and looked at me, came back and kissed me, with a strange look and said good bye, it was also the last good bye." Nivin said. Actually she used to kiss me, but this time her kiss shook me a bit. She was running to the door while I was looking at her in surprise. I will never forget her last kiss and her last farewell look…she will never come back, " Nivin said with tears showering her cheeks.... The owner of the grocery, Ibrahim Rasheed, 19, said that there was no confrontation between Palestinians and the Israeli soldiers in the moments preceding Mona’s death.... "When the girl arrived at the grocery there were no gunshots. Minutes after she left I heard intensive gunfire. I was terrified and sat frozen in the chair and minutes later, I peeked outside to see a man carrying Mona to the ambulance." Rasheed said.... "When she arrived at the grocery she was so happy. I was on the phone with somebody. Mona used to ask, ‘every time I come you are on the phone. With whom are you talking?’ ‘Am talking with my grandmother, I used to reply… and she laughed, picked up a packet of chips and two lollipops," Rasheed said. Mom, is the last word Mona uttered. "Mom, where is mom?.... .Am I dying now? Mom will get so angry with me… what am going to do? Where is mom? Mom …mom…", Mona repeated while she was lying in the ambulance, according to the volunteer rescuer, Mohammed Nassar 18-year-old.... "The driver parked close to Mona, when we tried to get down, the tank opened fire on us, the ambulance was damaged, despite that we dodged and evacuated the girl, but unfortunately she died," Nassar said.... Mohammed al-Sultan, surgeon at Kamal O'dwan Hospital, in Beit Lahya, said that Mona arrived at the hospital in critical condition. Her large intestine was slumped from the right upper quadrant of the abdomen and there was severe internal bleeding as a bullet ripped through Mona’s waist.... "A horizontal gunshot penetrated the left part of the waist. The pancreas was completely damaged," al-Sultan said, "the spleen and the lube of the liver also damaged.... "According to The Palestinian Ministry of Health, 16 Palestinian citizens, including Mona, were murdered and more than a hundred were wounded by IOF in the three-day invasion beginning April 20 into Beit Lahya.... Mona is not the first Palestinian child killed by Israeli troops. 572 Palestinian citizens under 18-year-old were slaughtered by Israeli war machine in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank since the outbreak of al-Aqsa Intifada on the 28 of September, 2000, till the 31 of March, 2004, according to the Palestinian National Information Centre |
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