On Monday evening, 20 September 2004, two members of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigade, the military wing of Hamas, were extra-judicially executed by Israeli troops in Gaza City. This latest execution was the second of its kind in Gaza City in less than 24 hours. PCHR strongly condemns violations of human rights perpetrated by Israeli occupying troops in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, especially the policy of extra-judicial killings, which has been officially adopted by the Israeli political and military establishments.

According to PCHR's preliminary investigations, at approximately 19:20 on Monday, 20 September 2004, Israeli aircrafts fired one missile at a civilian car, a grey Mitsubishi jeep, that was traveling in the densely populated Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in the south of Gaza City. The missile hit and burnt the car. Two Palestinians who were traveling in the car were instantly killed:

1.Rabah Darwish Zaqqout, 37, from al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip; and

2.Nabil Ibrahim al-Su'aidi, 38, also from al-Boreij refugee camp.

The two were members of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigade, the military wing of Hamas. In addition, 5 passing Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, were injured by shrapnel from the missile, and the injury of one of them was described by medical sources as serious.

PCHR remains gravely concerned about such escalation by the Israeli government and its occupying troops. Israeli violations of human rights, including extra-judicial and indiscriminate killings, further indicate Israel's disregard for international law and humanitarian law, which prohibit such acts that constitute a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949), in particular article 147. PCHR asserts that the policy of extra-judicial executions officially adopted by the Israeli government serves to increase tension in the region and threatens the lives of Palestinian civilians. PCHR reiterates its calls for the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations to ensure protection for Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.