Shunpiking Online Vo.4 No.3 Report: Over 5,000 Palestinians killed by the Israeli army since 2000

Palestinian youths demonstrating in Jerusalem (MaanImages)

BETHLEHEM (21 February 2007) Ma'an - SINCE the outbreak of the second Palestinian Intifada in September 2000, until late January 2007, the Israeli army has killed 5,050 Palestinian men, women and children, wounded 49,760 others and detained 10,4000 others, a report by the Palestinian Authority-run 'Palestinian State Information Service' has revealed.

The report, which was prepared by the Palestinian National Information Center, part of the PSIS, showed that 351 Palestinian women have been killed, 150 patients have died at checkpoints and 66 others have been killed due to beating by Israeli settlers. 36 medical staff have been killed, nine members of the press, and 220 sportsmen.

According to the report, the number of Palestinians detained by the Israeli army authorities has risen to 10,400 including 553 detained prior to the outbreak of the Intifada.

Among the prisoners there have been 1,150 suffering from chronic diseases, 1,175 students, 330 under the age of 18, 106 teachers and 118 female prisoners.

In terms of damage to Palestinian public buildings, the report states that 645 civil and security installations have been damaged, 72,437 houses have been partially and completely damaged until July 31, 2006.

Twelve Palestinian schools and universities had been sealed off by the Israeli authorities up to August, 8, 2006. 359 schools had been shelled and 43 schools had been turned into military outposts, according to PSIS's data.

848 students and educational staff were also shot dead by the Israeli army during the reporting period and 4,792 were wounded.

As for Palestinian farmland, until July 31, 2006, the report states that 13,572,896 trees were uprooted, 784 stores demolished, 15,549 bee hives and 1,360 water wells destroyed, and 207 farmers' houses demolished.

Concerning unemployment, the report stated that 30.3 % of the Palestinian work force has been unemployed, totaling some 288,300 persons, until September 30, 2006. At the same time, ISIS says the poverty rate across the occupied Palestinian territories has reached 70%, according to data gathered until the third quarter of 2006.

As for Israeli violations against journalists, the report recorded 1,147 attacks.

The report also recorded that the Israeli army has erected 5,001 checkpoints since October 1, 2001.

The report concluded that a total of 247,291 dunums of Palestinian-owned lands has been confiscated for the construction of the separation wall in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.