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Israel's Kill's One Palestinian Every Two Hours. No Serious Objections

27 January 2003 - The Palestine Monitor

"The Israelis have now killed 24 Palestinians in the last 48 hours - an
average of one Palestinian every two hours - with no serious objections
coming from the international community," said Palestinian human rights
activist Dr Mustafa Barghouthi, speaking from Ramallah today. "This silence
in the face of such whole-scale slaughter is simply unconscionable."

Yesterday Israeli forces launched a deadly raid on Gaza - killing 12
Palestinians and injuring 65 (five of whom are in intensive care) -- just
two days before the Israeli election. The incursion was the deepest in
years, with Israeli troops nearly reaching Palestine Square, in the center
of Gaza City.

More than 100 buildings were demolished by the Israelis when they invaded using about 50 tanks, armoured vehicles and helicopters.
Soon after the attack on Gaza, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said
that Israel was considering a complete reoccupation of Gaza.

Hours later, in Rafah. a seven-year-old Palestinian boy, Ali Talab Aziz, was
murdered by an Israeli soldier who opened fire at him from a tank; his
five-year-old bother Ala was wounded in the attack. According to
eyewitnesses, Ali and his bother were playing in front of their house when
Israeli tanks suddenly started firing randomly at civilians in the
neighborhood. The eyewitnesses said that the soldiers appeared to be aiming to kill.

The Israeli military also yesterday ordered the closure of all Palestinian
cities in advance of the Israeli election - preventing 3.6 million
Palestinians from moving freely between towns and cities in the West Bank.

"We demand that the international community take immediate action to stop this Israeli murder of Palestinian civilians and put an end to Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon's efforts to destroy any chances for a ceasefire and
eventual peace." said Barghouthi. "Sharon's actions clearly indicate that he
believes that he can act with impunity - we urge the international community to inform him that this is not the case - and that he must abide by international law like any other world leader."

For more information contact: The Palestine Monitor
+972 (0)2 298 5372 or +972 (0)59 387 087
http://www.palestinemonitor.org

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