Amnesty condemns deliberate killings of civilians

Israel/Occupied Territories:Amnesty International condemns deliberate killings of civilians

* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International *

3 December 2001 MDE 15/106/2001 213/01

Amnesty International today condemned the deliberate attacks in Jerusalem and Haifa which killed at least 25 Israeli civilians including four children, and left more than 200 wounded.

A suicide bomb in a crowded pedestrian precinct in Jerusalem around midnight on 1 December was followed by a suicide car bomb 10 minutes later. These two incidents killed 10 Israelis and wounded around 70. On 2 December a suicide bomb on a bus in Haifa killed 15 people and wounded 38 people.

The attacks were claimed by Hamas.

"These attacks are horrifying and tragic," Amnesty International said. "We call on armed groups to end immediately the direct targeting of civilians which contravenes the most fundamental principles of humanity."

The organization reminded the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority that no abuses of human rights by armed groups can excuse violations of fundamental human rights and humanitarian law.

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