It was a stretch, but the Palestinian PCHR narrative, that fails to
seriously address the Israeli accounting of what transpired, still came to
the conclusion that Israel should be condemned.

#1. What happened:
2 Palestinans killed after attempt to stab soldier
IDF Spokesperson 21 March 2010, 13:44

During a routine patrol carried out by IDF forces southeast of Nablus, two
Palestinians tried to stab a soldier. The forces opened fire in response,
killing both terrorists. No soldiers were hurt and the circumstances of the
incident are currently under investigation.

Meanwhile, the disturbances have continued in Judea and Samaria as hundreds
of Palestinians clashed on Sunday (Mar. 21) with security forces in Gush
Etzion. Palestinians hurled rocks at security forces who were forced to
respond with riot dispersal means.

#2 Narrative of Palestinian NGO

PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
Press Release

Ref: 19/2010
Date: 22 March 2010
Time: 08:30 GMT

PCHR Condemns Israeli Escalation in the OPT; IOF Kill Two Civilians in West
Bank and Launch Air Strikes in the Gaza Strip

In the past three days, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have escalated their
war crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). The latest of such
crimes committed by IOF were the killing of two Palestinian civilians in the
West Bank and air strikes against targets in the Gaza Strip. The
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns this escalation and
renews its call upon the international community to bring to trial Israeli
political and military leaders who are allegedly responsible for war crimes.

In the West Bank, IOF killed two Palestinian civilians from ‘Awarta village,
southeast of Nablus. Less than 24 hours earlier, IOF killed two Palestinian
civilians, including a child, in cold blood in Iraq Bourin village, south of
Nablus.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 12:05 on
Sunday, 21 March 2010, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in Nablus
was informed by the Israeli Military Liaison that there were two bodies
belonging to Palestinians who were killed by Israeli troops near ‘Awarta
village, southeast of Nablus. A PRCS ambulance drove to the reported scene.
Ahmed Jebril, the driver, and Jamal Husni Abu Hamda, a paramedic, were in
the ambulance. A vehicle belonging to the Israeli Military Liaison was
waiting near Hawara checkpoint at the southern entrance of Nablus to lead
the ambulance to the scene where the bodies were. The ambulance followed
the military vehicle that drove towards the east of ‘Awarta village on
‘Aqraba – Yanoun road. The military vehicle stopped near an area of land
planted with olives, approximately seven kilometers far from the village.
As the ambulance arrived, Jebril and Abu Hamda saw two bodies. The bodies
were near the two edges of the road and there was a distance of 10-15 meters
between them. They were covered with blankets which are used by the IOF.
Israeli soldiers who were in the scene allowed the paramedics to check the
two bodies. There were several wounds throughout the two bodies. Abu Hamda
saw two small hoes and a Pepsi Cola in a plastic sac with one of the
soldiers. The two bodies were carried to the ambulance that drove to
‘Awarta commercial checkpoint to return to Nablus. Residents of ‘Awarta
village who gathered near the checkpoint identified the two victims as:
Mohammed Faisal Mahmoud Qawariq, 20; and Salah Mohammed Kamel Qawariq, 19,
both from ‘Awarta village.

The two bodies were transferred to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus. Dr. Abdul
Karim Hashash, who examined the bodies, told a PCHR fieldworker that
Mohammed Qawariq was hit by four bullets to the chest (with entrances and
exits), one to the bottom of the abdomen and two ones to the left thigh and
leg. He also sustained fractures and burns in the left leg. This indicates
that he was shot from a close range. Salah Qawarir was hit by a bullet that
entered the chest and exited the back, another one to the right arm (with a
entrance and an exit) and a third one that entered the back and exited the
top of the chest. Abu Hamda stated that the nature of the wounds sustained
by the two Palestinians, their clothes and what he saw with the soldier
indicate that they were working in their land.

In the Gaza Strip, from Friday, 19 March 2010, till Monday morning, 22
March, Israeli warplanes launched several strikes on civil targets.

· At approximately 01:00 on Friday, an Israel F-16 fighter jet
drooped two bombs on Mahdi al-Daia & Sons Company for iron framing on
Saladin Street near the police station in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the
east of Gaza City. The building, which stands on an 800-square-meters area
of land was completely destroyed, but no casualties were reported.
· At approximately 01:10 on Friday, Israeli warplanes fired five
missiles at Saladin Gate, Yebna refugee camp, and Block J which are located
in the south of Rafah, near the border with Egypt, allegedly to destroy
tunnels. As a result, Bader ‘Oudet Allah al-Sha’er, 32, was wounded by
shrapnel to the face, and Salem Hamdan al-Sha’er, 48, sustained a fracture
of the right foot as a result of the strike. The wounded persons are
workers in the tunnels.
· At approximately 01:25 on Friday, Israeli F-16 fighter jets
dropped a bomb on a farm in the east of ‘Abasan village, east of Khan Yunis.
No casualties or material damage were reported.
· At approximately 22:20 on Friday, Israeli warplanes fired four
missiles at Gaza International Airport, southeast of Rafah. Eleven
Palestinians, including two children, were wounded as a result. The wounded
civilians who are all residents of Rafah were transferring raw aggregate
from the destroyed runway of the Airport.

Note: PCHR keeps the names of the wounded.

· In the early morning of Monday, 22 March 2010, Israeli warplanes
fire a missile at al-Shouka village, near Rafah International Crossing Point
on the Egyptian border, southeast of Rafah, allegedly to destroy tunnels.
The targeted tunnel was set alight as a result, but no casualties were
reported.

PCHR reiterates its condemnation for these crimes and:

1. Asserts that these crimes are part of a series of war crimes
committed by IOF in the OPT, which reflect total disregard for the lives of
Palestinian civilians.
2. Calls upon the international community to take immediate action to
put an end to such crimes. PCHR further renews its demand for the High
Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their
obligation under Article 1 which stipulates “the High Contracting Parties
undertake to respect and to ensure respect for the present Convention in all
circumstances,” as well as their obligations under Article 146 which
requires that the Contracting Parties prosecute persons alleged to commit
grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention. These grave breaches
constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and under
Protocol I Additional to Geneva Conventions.

Public Document
**************************************
For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8
2824776 – 2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip.
E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org

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