3 More Young Palestinians Slain in Occupied Territory

Three more young Palestinians died in the occupied territories today, and an Arab human rights group accused Israel of obstructing an investigation into the death last week of a 14-year-old Palestinian-American.

Palestinian sources said the dead included Nasser Halil Shahin, 17, found beaten and shot through the heart outside the Al Amari refugee camp near the West Bank town of Ramallah.

Residents of Al Amari said troops arrested Shahin Monday night, but military sources denied this, adding that the army has been unable to examine the body, which was apparently buried quickly.

In Ramallah, a 14-year-old girl, Najlah Adel Nadi, died in a hospital from gunshot wounds she suffered Aug. 16, hospital staff said.

Woman, 20, Slain

In the Gaza Strip, a 20-year-old woman, Maha Awad abu Hadad, was shot to death during clashes with troops in Deir el Balah, hospital officials said.

Israeli radio said authorities canceled the reopening of high schools scheduled for Wednesday because of the violence. Other classes had resumed during the last month, more than a year after Israel closed the schools.

As the violence swirled, a tug of war developed over the body of 14-year-old Amjad Hussein Jibreen, an American citizen. The United States has requested a complete investigation.

The army said an Israeli autopsy performed Sunday showed that he was not killed during a security operation.

No Signs of Torture

Military sources said he had been shot at close range, apparently with a pistol, but there were no signs of torture.

Al Haq, an independent group monitoring human rights in the West Bank, accused Israeli authorities of delaying the return of the body so an independent autopsy could be performed.

Jibreen’s body was found in Ramallah on Friday with a bullet wound in the chest. Relatives said his head was smashed and his body had cigarette burns.

“The corpse has not been released, and the Israelis are putting up bureaucratic roadblocks,” said a spokesman for Al Haq. He had waited all day with Derrick Pounder, a Scottish doctor who flew to Israel to perform an autopsy.