2021-P

Hussein Munir Hussein Hamad

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May 10, 2021: Hussein Munir Hussein Hamad, 11, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip.

He was among at least 26 Palestinians, including 9 children and one woman, killed in Israeli airstrikes that day in the Gaza Strip. Israel began its assault on Gaza on the night of May 9th, following three weeks of Israeli settler and soldier attacks on Palestinians in Jerusalem.

The Israeli attacks in Jerusalem began on the first day of Ramadan on April 12th, and continued throughout the Muslim holy month, which was set to end Wednesday, May 12th. Israel’s attacks focused on Palestinian Muslims attempting to pray at the holy al-Aqsa Mosque during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Yazan al-Masri, 1

In addition to the nine children, including a 9-year old girl, who were confirmed killed in the first wave of Israeli airstrikes, local sources confirmed that a woman and her disabled son were among those slain.

In addition to those identified in the update below, five additional victims have been identified as having been killed by the two missiles that struck the home of Ibrahim Atallah al-Masri in Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza Monday night.

  • Ibrahim Yousef Atallah al-Masri, 10 years old
  • Yazin Sultan Atallah al-Masri, 1-year-old
  • Marwan Yousef Atallah al-Masri, 12
  • Rahaf Mohammad Atallah al-Masri, 10-year-old girl
  • Ahmad Mohammad Atallah al-Masri, 20
Mother of Rahaf al-Masri weeping over her child’s death

Before dawn Tuesday, the Israeli army fired missiles into an apartment in a residential tower, in the Rimal neighborhood, west of Gaza city, killing three Palestinians, and seriously wounding one, in addition to injuring at least seven other Palestinians in adjacent apartments. The Maan News Agency said the army targeted leaders of the al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, in the residential tower. The slain Palestinians have been identified as:

  • Sameh al-Mamlouk
  • Kamal Taiseer Qreiqe’, 35
  • Mohammad Abu al-Ata

Extrajudicial assassinations are considered violations of international law but are a common practice by the Israeli military.

In Khan Younis, a Palestinian died of wounds sustained Monday evening during Israeli missile attacks in the al-Manara area of the city. He has been identified as:

  • Salim Mahmoud al-Farra, 37

Hussein was from the Gaza Strip. Source: IMEMC

Abdullah Khaled Da’bas

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May 7th, 2021: Abdullah Khaled Da’bas, 20, was killed by Israeli forces along with Mohammad Ayman Fathi, 20, near the Salem Israeli military roadblock, close to the northern West Bank city of Jenin. A third Palestinian was injured by gunshot wounds inflicted by the Israeli troops. The injured Palestinian has been identified as Ahmad Bashir Foqaha, 19.

The Israeli army claimed the Palestinians fired live rounds at the soldiers and were killed in the ensuing exchange of fire.

Israeli media sources said the exchange of fire took place at a bus stop near the Salem colonialist outpost, outside the Salem military base.

They added that the Palestinians allegedly used improvised Carl Gustav rifles (known as Carlos) in the attack, before they were shot and killed, and stated that the incident did not lead to any injuries among the soldiers.

Following the shooting, Palestinian ambulances rushed to the scene, but the soldiers did not allow them to reach the Palestinians.

Israeli Ynet News said two of the Palestinians were instantly killed during the exchange of fire, and one was injured before he was taken to the HaEmek hospital in Afula, where his condition has been described as very serious.

It is worth mentioning that some Israeli media agencies initially reported that three Palestinians were shot dead.

Following the fatal shooting, the soldiers closed the entire area, forced the Palestinians away, and attacked Palestinian journalists.

Israeli military analysts said the shooting could just be the start of a serious escalation in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and added that the shooting seems to have been carried out by a small cell, however, could be the start for more escalation especially amidst the increasing tension in Jerusalem.

Abdullah was from Shweika area in Tulkarem. Source: IMEMC

Mohammad Ayman Fathi

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May 7th, 2021: Mohammad Ayman Fathi, 20, was killed by Israeli forces along with Abdullah Khaled Da’bas, 20, near the Salem Israeli military roadblock, close to the northern West Bank city of Jenin. A third Palestinian was injured by gunshot wounds inflicted by the Israeli troops. The injured Palestinian has been identified as Ahmad Bashir Foqaha, 19.

The Israeli army claimed the Palestinians fired live rounds at the soldiers and were killed in the ensuing exchange of fire.

Israeli media sources said the exchange of fire took place at a bus stop near the Salem colonialist outpost, outside the Salem military base.

They added that the Palestinians allegedly used improvised Carl Gustav rifles (known as Carlos) in the attack, before they were shot and killed, and stated that the incident did not lead to any injuries among the soldiers.

Following the shooting, Palestinian ambulances rushed to the scene, but the soldiers did not allow them to reach the Palestinians.

Israeli Ynet News said two of the Palestinians were instantly killed during the exchange of fire, and one was injured before he was taken to the HaEmek hospital in Afula, where his condition has been described as very serious.

It is worth mentioning that some Israeli media agencies initially reported that three Palestinians were shot dead.

Following the fatal shooting, the soldiers closed the entire area, forced the Palestinians away, and attacked Palestinian journalists.

Israeli military analysts said the shooting could just be the start of a serious escalation in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and added that the shooting seems to have been carried out by a small cell, however, could be the start for more escalation especially amidst the increasing tension in Jerusalem.

Mohammad was from the Tulkarem refugee camp. Source: IMEMC

Sa’id Yousef Mohammad Odah

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May 5th, 2021: Sa’id Yousef Mohammad Odah, 16, was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers who were invading Sa’id’s village. Israeli forces invaded the village of Odla, south of Nablus in the northern occupied West Bank, and began firing live ammunition at local youth who were protesting the Israeli closure of his village for the past three days, and of many villages and towns in the northern West Bank.

Sa’id was known in his town as a very skilled soccer player. He played for the Balata Youth Football League, and competed in different parts of the West Bank (when the Israeli occupation would allow). Soccer matches for Palestinian athletes living under Israeli martial law are frequently stopped by the Israeli military, or teams are prevented from traveling for matches.

Since a drive-by shooting on Sunday in which three Israeli colonial settlers were wounded (one later died of his wounds), Israeli forces conducted a massive manhunt which shut down the daily lives and activities of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who live in the area. Many were prevented from leaving home, prevented from going to work or school, and forced to wait in lines at ‘flying checkpoints’ for many hours at a time.

According to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), Sa’id was shot with a live round by Israeli forces, while another young man was shot with a rubber-coated steel round and taken to Rafidia hospital in Nablus.

The Israeli forces who shot Sa’id then prevented Palestinian medics from reaching the scene. The soldiers dragged his body into a military vehicle and took him to an unknown destination – likely a military base. He was not given medical treatment, and his body was only returned to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society after his death.

It is unknown if he would have survived his injuries if he had been allowed to receive proper medical care at the scene.

Israeli forces frequently detain the Palestinians they have injured and killed, and prevent them from receiving medical care. This denial of medical care is

Sa’id was from the northern West Bank village of Odla. Source: IMEMC

Rihab Mohammad Mousa Za’oul

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May 2nd, 2021: Rihab Mohammad Mousa Za’oul, 60, was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers near a checkpoint south of occupied Jerusalem in the West Bank.

Initially, Rihab was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Later that night, she died of her wounds.

Israeli Ynet News claimed the woman was shot in her leg when the soldiers claimed “she carried a knife.”

The incident did not lead to any injuries among the soldiers.

Za’oul was later moved to Sha’arei Zedek Israeli medical center, in Jerusalem, where she succumbed to her serious wounds. Her corpse remains held by Israel.

Israeli soldiers shot, on Sunday morning, a Palestinian woman at the Etzion junction, south of Bethlehem, south of the occupied Palestinian capital, Jerusalem, in the West Bank.

Media sources said the soldiers shot Rihab Mohammad Khalaf al-Hroub, 60, from Wadi Fukin village, southwest of Bethlehem, while walking near the military roadblock.

Israeli sources said the woman was moved to Shaare Zedek hospital, in Jerusalem.

Following the incident, the soldiers closed the junction to all Palestinian traffic.

Rihab was from Wadi Fukin Palestinian village, southwest of Bethlehem. Source: IMEMC

Shafiqa Mohammad Suleiman Aqel

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April 7th, 2021: Shafiqa Mohammad Suleiman Aqel, 73, was killed after being rammed by the speeding vehicle of an illegal Israeli colonialist settler at the western entrance of the Sammoa’ town, southwest of the southern West Bank city of Hebron.

Medical sources said the woman, identified as Shafiqa Mohammad Suleiman Aqel, 73, suffered very serious wounds when the colonist’s car rammed her in the Mothallath as-Simia area, near as-Sammoa’.

They added that an Israeli ambulance was called to the scene before the medics rushed her to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba (Be’er as-Sabe’), where she succumbed to her serious wounds.

Such incidents are frequent and have led to many Palestinian casualties, in various parts of the West Bank.

It is worth mentioning that Shafiqa is the 11th Palestinian to be killed by Israelis this year – the third to be killed in a vehicle ramming incident.

On Friday, February 12th, 2021, a Palestinian man, identified as Bilal Shehada Bawatna, 52, was killed and two were injured, after being rammed by an illegal Israeli colonist’s car, while participating in a nature walk activity in the Northern Plains of the occupied West Bank.

On February 10, a Palestinian man, identified as Azzam Jamil Amer, from Kafr Qalil village near Ramallah, was killed after being rammed by an Israeli colonists’ car near Salfit, in central West Bank.

On January 31, the soldiers shot and killed Mohammad Hussein Amro, 35, from Halhoul, north of the southern West Bank city of Hebron,

On January 26, the soldiers shot and killed Atallah Mohammad Rayyan, 17, near Salfit in central West Bank.

On January 11, the Israeli police killed Bashar Zubeidat, 18, during a protest against police violence near Haifa.

Shafiqa was from Hebron district in the southern West Bank. Source: IMEMC

Osama Sidqi Mansour

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April 6th, 2021: Osama Sidqi Mansour, 42, was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers, and his wife was shot in the back and injured, when the soldiers opened fire at their car near the occupied Palestinian capital, Jerusalem, in the West Bank.

The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed that the soldiers shot Osama Sidqi Mansour, 42, with a live round in the head while he was driving his car on the road between Biddu village to al-Jeeb town, northwest of Jerusalem.

The Ministry added that Osama’s wife was also injured in the same incident, after the soldiers shot her in the back, and was rushed to a Palestinian hospital in Ramallah. Her condition was described as stable.

The army claimed that its soldiers were “operating” in Bir Nibala nearby village before the driver “attempted to ram them with his car.”

The Israeli military spokesperson alleged that the soldiers set up a roadblock and were standing there in order to close the area while the army operated nearby before the Palestinian driver “approached them with his car and started talking to the soldiers before he suddenly sped towards them before they opened fire.

The allegations were strongly refuted by the family and were described as another Israeli attempt to justify a cold-blooded murder.

Talking to reporters from his hospital bed, the wounded wife said, “we were heading back home, and on the road, we saw two Israeli military vehicles, and many soldiers on the road; they stopped our car, along with many cars, but one soldier told us we could go.”

“But that is when the soldiers started shooting at our car, my husband was hit while driving and slumped over my chest,” she added, “I first realized I was shot, and tried to tell him, but this is when he was hit with their bullets….”

Eyewitnesses, including Fateh movement secretary in Jerusalem, Adel Abu Zneid, told the Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) the incident took place approximately at 3:30 am, before dawn, and added that a soldier hurled a concussion grenade at the man’s car before he tried to drive away from it, and then the soldiers then opened fire at his car.

Osama was from Biddu village, northwest of occupied Jerusalem. Source: IMEMC

Atef Yousef Hanaisha

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March 19th, 2021: Atef Yousef Hanaisha, 45, the Imam of the local mosque, was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers who fired a live round in his head while he was participating in a peaceful demonstration in his village, Beit Dajan.

The protest was in defense of Palestinian-owned land which is under the threat of confiscation.

The army opened fire toward Palestinian civilians exercising their right to protest with live rounds, rubber-coated steel rounds, and teargas to suppress the march, which was organized to reject the Israeli occupation’s continued expropriation of Palestinian-owned land.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) stated that they rushed the severely injured man to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus, where he was soon pronounced dead due to his of his serious wounds.

It is worth mentioning that Hanaisha worked as a carpenter with his brother, however, he also spent the last twenty years of his life as a volunteer Imam of the local mosque.

Atef was from Beit Dajan, in the northern part of the West Bank. Source: IMEMC

Zakariya Mustafa Lahham

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ZakariahMarch 7th, 2021: Zakariya Hijazi Lahham, 24, was one of three fishermen killed, while another was seriously injured, near Khan Younis in the southern part of the besieged Gaza Strip, due to an explosion in their boat. The Israeli army said it had nothing to do with the incident, but a full investigation of the incident by the Palestinian Authority in Gaza found that the explosion was called by an Israeli-placed floating bomb that had been dropped by a drone on February 22nd.

The three were identified as Mohammad Hijazi Lahham, 27, his brother Zakariya Hijazi Lahham, 24, and their cousin Yahia Mustafa Lahham, 29. One other fisherman from the same family was seriously injured in the incident.

A week after the incident, the Hamas-led Interior Ministry in Gaza released the results of its investigation into the deaths of the three fishermen off the coast of Gaza near Khan Younis. The Ministry collected evidence, and based their investigation on three possibilities:

  1. That the boat was hit by a misfire from resistance fighters in training
  2. That the Israeli navy targeted and fired at the boat
  3. That the boat struck an unexploded mine in the water

The investigators went to the training site of the al-Qassam Brigades and checked the surveillance video and the distance range of each of the rockets there. Knowing the range of the rockets, and checking forensic and video evidence, the investigators ruled out this possibility.

By collecting testimonies from the fishermen and the Palestinian naval police, and by collecting recordings from surveillance cameras, it became clear that the Israeli navy did not fire missiles at the boats.

The investigation committee concluded that this explosion was tied to a previous incident, which took place on February 22nd in Khan Younis sea, near the location where the explosion took place in the boat.

During this incident, the Israeli Navy used Quad Copter drones to drop floating bombs in the sea. These bombs carry powerful explosives, and are like ‘landmines’ on the sea in that the impact is usually on innocents.

After collecting all evidence from the explosion site in the sea, and after receiving into custody the destroyed boat and nets, the investigators concluded:

  1. Nearly 30 minutes before the explosion took place, two fishermen found an Israeli quad copter drone stuck in their nets near the location of the explosion. They managed to remove it and give it to the Palestinian naval police.
  2. The remains of another quad copter drone was found stuck in the nets of the three slain fishermen, after the divers collected the wreckage.
  3. The investigators found the backside of the boat and other parts of the boat, and concluded that the explosion took place under the right side of the boat.
  4. By comparing the quad copter that was found by the fishermen to the remains of the quad copter found in the wreckage of the exploded boat, the two were of similar make.
  5. Forensics experts found that the fishermen were killed by the explosive shock and shrapnel was not found in their bodies.
  6. Following all of the evidence, the investigators concluded that Israel is fully responsible for the deaths of the three fishermen on March 7th in Khan Younis Sea.

The Ministry called on national, international, legal and human rights groups to take a stand and call for an end to Israel’s continued violations against the Palestinian people and their humanity.

Prior to launching the investigation, the Ministry released a statement, “We express our sincere condolences to the families of Mohammad Hijazi Saleh Lahham, Zakariya Hijazi Saleh Lahham, and Yahia Mustafa Saleh Lahham,” the brigades said, “We will investigate this painful incident and will reveal the whole truth as soon as possible.”

In a statement issued by the Israeli army on its official Twitter account, the spokesperson denied any relation to the incident, and added: “our indications show that their deaths were caused by an explosion inside Gaza.”

On the same day, the soldiers stationed on military towers and in armored vehicles across the perimeter fence, fired many live rounds at Palestinian farmers and shepherds, east of Khan Younis.

The farmers and the shepherds had to leave their lands in fear of further Israeli military violations.

The attack is part of the numerous and ongoing Israeli violations targeting the Palestinian farmers, shepherds, and fishermen in the Gaza Strip.

These attacks have led to dozens of casualties, including fatalities, in addition to the abduction of many farmers, shepherds, and fishermen.

Zakariyah was from Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Source: IMEMC

Mohammad Hijazi Lahham

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MohammedMarch 7th, 2021: Mohammad Hijazi Lahham, 27, was one of three fishermen killed, while another was seriously injured, near Khan Younis in the southern part of the besieged Gaza Strip, due to an explosion in their boat. The Israeli army said it had nothing to do with the incident, but a full investigation of the incident by the Palestinian Authority in Gaza found that the explosion was called by an Israeli-placed floating bomb that had been dropped by a drone on February 22nd.

The three were identified as Mohammad Hijazi Lahham, 27, his brother Zakariya Hijazi Lahham, 24, and their cousin Yahia Mustafa Lahham, 29. One other fisherman from the same family was seriously injured in the incident.

A week after the incident, the Hamas-led Interior Ministry in Gaza released the results of its investigation into the deaths of the three fishermen off the coast of Gaza near Khan Younis. The Ministry collected evidence, and based their investigation on three possibilities:

  1. That the boat was hit by a misfire from resistance fighters in training
  2. That the Israeli navy targeted and fired at the boat
  3. That the boat struck an unexploded mine in the water

The investigators went to the training site of the al-Qassam Brigades and checked the surveillance video and the distance range of each of the rockets there. Knowing the range of the rockets, and checking forensic and video evidence, the investigators ruled out this possibility.

By collecting testimonies from the fishermen and the Palestinian naval police, and by collecting recordings from surveillance cameras, it became clear that the Israeli navy did not fire missiles at the boats.

The investigation committee concluded that this explosion was tied to a previous incident, which took place on February 22nd in Khan Younis sea, near the location where the explosion took place in the boat.

During this incident, the Israeli Navy used Quad Copter drones to drop floating bombs in the sea. These bombs carry powerful explosives, and are like ‘landmines’ on the sea in that the impact is usually on innocents.

After collecting all evidence from the explosion site in the sea, and after receiving into custody the destroyed boat and nets, the investigators concluded:

  1. Nearly 30 minutes before the explosion took place, two fishermen found an Israeli quad copter drone stuck in their nets near the location of the explosion. They managed to remove it and give it to the Palestinian naval police.
  2. The remains of another quad copter drone was found stuck in the nets of the three slain fishermen, after the divers collected the wreckage.
  3. The investigators found the backside of the boat and other parts of the boat, and concluded that the explosion took place under the right side of the boat.
  4. By comparing the quad copter that was found by the fishermen to the remains of the quad copter found in the wreckage of the exploded boat, the two were of similar make.
  5. Forensics experts found that the fishermen were killed by the explosive shock and shrapnel was not found in their bodies.
  6. Following all of the evidence, the investigators concluded that Israel is fully responsible for the deaths of the three fishermen on March 7th in Khan Younis Sea.

The Ministry called on national, international, legal and human rights groups to take a stand and call for an end to Israel’s continued violations against the Palestinian people and their humanity.

Prior to launching the investigation, the Ministry released a statement, “We express our sincere condolences to the families of Mohammad Hijazi Saleh Lahham, Zakariya Hijazi Saleh Lahham, and Yahia Mustafa Saleh Lahham,” the brigades said, “We will investigate this painful incident and will reveal the whole truth as soon as possible.”

In a statement issued by the Israeli army on its official Twitter account, the spokesperson denied any relation to the incident, and added: “our indications show that their deaths were caused by an explosion inside Gaza.”

On the same day, the soldiers stationed on military towers and in armored vehicles across the perimeter fence, fired many live rounds at Palestinian farmers and shepherds, east of Khan Younis.

The farmers and the shepherds had to leave their lands in fear of further Israeli military violations.

The attack is part of the numerous and ongoing Israeli violations targeting the Palestinian farmers, shepherds, and fishermen in the Gaza Strip.

These attacks have led to dozens of casualties, including fatalities, in addition to the abduction of many farmers, shepherds, and fishermen.

Mohammad was from Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Source: IMEMC