Posted on 26-9-2003

Palestinian child # 487
September 24, 2003

Palestinian child number four hundred and eighty seven was fifteen year
old, Muhammad Ayisa Hamden. He was killed in the early hours of this
morning when shrapnel from an Israeli tank shell entered his neck.

Muhammad was among many Yibna residents who fled their homes late last
night when approximately twenty Israeli tanks and vehicles, including
bulldozers, supported by apache helicopters, invaded the refugee camp in
Rafah. As recent Israeli practice has been to indiscriminately shell and
demolish houses regardless of the presence of occupants, most Palestinians
now flee their homes at the sound of invading troops.

Mohammad, having fled his home, stood with a group of children watching as
the Israeli forces clashed with residents attempting to prevent the
demolition of three houses. Witnesses said the Israeli forces fired on the
children and Mohammad died instantly amongst his friends when hit by
shrapnel in the neck. Ten other Palestinians were injured. Four of whom
remain in a serious condition in hospital.

This is the four hundred and eighty seventh Palestinian child killed since
the beginning of the Intifada three years ago. Like Mohammad, 159 others
were shot directly in the head and neck. Of the 487 killed, 473 were killed
by Israeli soldiers. More than a hundred of these children had not even
reached their tenth birthday.