LAW: Blast at Zaif Primary School in Hebron
LAW Demand Israeli Authority to Investigate
17 September 2002
An explosive device went off at Zaif Primary School in Hebron on Tuesday, September 17,
2002. Two other explosive devices were found in the school and safely detonated. There are
400 students at Zaif school and 20 teachers; they miraculously escaped the blast.
The first blast took place while the school was in session.
According to LAW's investigations, the explosive device went off at 10:00. The shrapnel hit
classrooms wounding 8 students, mostly first graders whose classroom was close to the site of
the explosion. Palestinian Red Crescent Society's ambulances evacuated the wounded to
hospitals in nearby town of Yata.
Israeli bomb squad and troops arrived to the scene and discovered two other explosive
devices; they were safely detonated.
Residents of Zaif, south of Hebron, stated to LAW that Israeli troops raided the town late
Monday night (September 16, 2002) and imposed a curfew on the town, which is under Israeli
control.
A road that connects south Hebron settlements with Bethlehem settlements crosses Zaif.
LAW strongly condemns this act of targeting innocent school students and demands the Israeli
authorities to investigate the incident in cooperation with Palestinians or a neutral international
body. The results of the investigation must be made public and those responsible must be
brought to justice.
