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A
repetition of history….. Palestinian flee the turmoil and panic of
the Israeli army war against innocent families who are trying to
salvage some of their belongings; while others trying to survive or
search for safe shelters to hide in … This is the view of
Palestinians in Gaza Strip in the 56 anniversary of Al Nakba
(Catastrophe) who were rounded up and expelled from their homes and
lands.
In one of its most intense periods of destruction since the outbreak
of the second Intifada in 2000, the Israeli Occupying Forces has
demolished a huge number of houses in Gaza Strip during the last two
weeks. The Destruction has made thousands of inhabitants homeless,
mostly children living in a tent over nights. See
Photo 1 &
Photo 2
The Israeli forces claim that these operations were carried out for
security reasons, mainly looking for weapons smuggling tunnels but,
on the ground, these demolitions are to devastate as much
Palestinian lands as possible to intensify its military control in
the area and to implement
Israel's unilateral Segregation plan on the ground.
Since the beginning of May 2004, the Gaza Strip has been facing
brutal Israeli aggression. The majority of the demolitions took
place in the western camp of Khan Yunis, Rafah governorate mainly in
Block (O) neighborhood just close to the Palestinian-Egyptian
borders or the Philadelphia route, and in
the region of the Kissufim corridor. As a result, more than 258
houses were completely or partially demolished; in addition to
bulldozing 77 dunums of agricultural land cultivated with fruitful
trees were razed for military reasons.
See Photo 3.
The table below illustrates the number of houses demolished and
lands razed during the period of 1-16 of May, 2004.
Table
1: Total of houses demolished and land razed during the period of
1-16 May 2004:
|
# of houses demolished |
# of houses partially damaged |
Land Razing (Dunums) |
|
182 |
76 |
77 |
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Table 2 also details the Israeli violations committed during the
last ten days in Khan Yunis western camp, Rafah and in the area
surrounding Kissufim corridor.
Table 2: Detailed table of the Israeli
violations in
Gaza Strip
during the period of 1- 16 May 2004
|
Date |
Location |
Owner |
Violation |
|
1_May_04 |
alongside the colony of Nave Dekalim west of Khan Yunis city |
NA |
C_
Constructing a 7m depth and 3m width trench |
|
1_May_04 |
the western camp of Khan Yunis to the south of Gaza Strip |
NA |
D_
Demolition of 14 houses
in between completely and partially |
|
2_May_04 |
Al
Qarara town north of Khan Yunis |
Muhammad El Sheebi
+
Al
Bram family |
S_
Razing 5
dunums of agricultural land |
|
2_May_04 |
near Kissufim military base south of the town of Al Qarara
town |
El
Qudra and Al Zar |
O_
Threatened houses |
|
2_May_04 |
Abu Hadaf area in the middle of Gaza Strip |
Hassan Al Zr, ‘Layan Al Zar, ‘Ali Al Zar,
Suleiman AL Zar and
Abu Hajaj family |
D_
Demolishing 8 houses |
|
2_May_04 |
Abu Hadaf area in the middle of Gaza Strip |
Al-Masalha, Abu Sulaisel, Abu Rezeq and Abu Farra |
O_
Threatened houses |
|
2_May_04 |
Gaza city |
Al-Aqsa local broadcasting station
|
D_
Demolishing of the Al-Aqsa local broadcasting station |
|
3_May_04 |
Abu El ‘Ajen area in the middle of Gaza Strip |
Salama Abu ‘Eid |
D_
Demolishing
several numbers of plastic houses constructed over 4 dunums of
land |
|
3_May_04 |
Abu El ‘Ajen area in the middle of Gaza Strip |
‘Eid Abu ‘Arabyan and Hassan Abu Meghed |
D_
Demolishing two houses |
|
3_May_04 |
El
Sha’out and Block (J) south of Rafah city |
Esam Jaber, Sa’ed Barhoum+ Saqer El Sufi |
D_
Demolishing two residential buildings each composed of three
stores+ a house |
|
3_May_04 |
El
Mughraga area to the south of Gaza city |
Sa’di El Helow (Two-storey house), Muhammad ‘Abed El Wahab Abu
Layla, Reziq Abu Layla, Mahmoud El Helow, Najla Hatem and
En’am El Najjar |
D_
Demolishing 7 houses |
|
3_May_04 |
El
Mughraga area to the south of Gaza city |
Muhammad ‘Ikela and Fouad El Helow |
D_
Demolishing
walls that surround houses |
|
3_May_04 |
El
Mughraga area to the south of Gaza city |
Khader Abu Layla |
S_
Razing 2 dunums |
|
3_May_04 |
El
Mughraga area to the south of Gaza city |
Saqer Abu Layla, Ahmad Abu Wali, Suleiman Abu Wali and Talal
Abu Khbayza |
U_
Uprooting
Olive and Fruitful trees |
|
4_May_04 |
high dam area in the western camp of Khan Yunis south of Gaza
Strip |
Palestinian families |
D_
Demolishing 15 houses and other 15 were partially damaged |
|
4_May_04 |
high dam area in the western camp of Khan Yunis south of Gaza
Strip |
El Sha’er and El Basheti families |
S_
Razing 15 dunums of land cultivated with Fruitful trees |
|
4_May_04 |
Batn El Samen area south of Khan Yunis city |
El Sha’er, Bareka and Zu’rub families |
S_
Razing 25 dunums of agricultural land cultivated with
Vegetables |
|
4_May_04 |
Neve Dekalim colony |
NA
|
C_
Constructing new neighbourhood in Neve Dekalim colony
containing 21 housing units |
|
5_May_04 |
Abu ‘Uref street in Deir Al Balah governorate |
Fuad Abu Msabeh |
D_
Demolishing a house
with a cement workshop |
|
5_May_04 |
Abu ‘Uref street in Deir Al Balah governorate |
NA
|
R_
Erecting a road which connects the Martyrs Street with Kfar
Darom colony |
|
5_May_04 |
Abu ‘Uref street in Deir Al Balah governorate |
Hassan Abu Naser+
Kamil Abu Naser
|
R_
Razing 9
plastic houses |
|
5_May_04 |
the western camp of Khan Yunis |
Wael Abu Reziq, Farhan Shalula, Mahmoud Hneydek, Mahrous
Hneydek, Sa’diya Shaloula, Ahmad Abu Reziq, Yasir Hneydek,
Fathi Hneydek, Yousef Hneydek and Ahmad Hneydek |
D_
Demolishing 15
houses in which 11 of them were completely demolished
|
|
6_May_04 |
Al
Brazil neighbourhood |
‘Ayed El Basheti |
D_
Demolishing a
four-storey house |
|
6_May_04 |
Gaza Strip |
NA
|
C_
Constructing a Segregation Fence that runs the length of 7km
long Kissufim corridor |
|
6_May_04 |
Al
Brazil neighbourhood southeast of Rafah city |
Abed El Qader El Basheti |
D_
Demolishing a three-story house |
|
6_May_04 |
Al
Brazil neighbourhood southeast of Rafah city |
‘Abed El Qader El Sha’er |
D_
Demolishing a house another 7 houses were partially damaged |
|
7_May_04 |
El
Sater El Gharbi area west of Khan Yunis city |
NA
|
D_
Demolishing 5 houses |
|
7_May_04 |
Al Matahen area to the north of Khan Yunis |
Fayez El Najeli |
D_
Partially
Demolition |
|
7_May_04 |
El
‘Arayba area north of Rafah |
Sa’ed Dahlez |
D_
Demolishing 1 house |
|
7_May_04 |
north of Khan Yunis on the borders of Gane Tal colony west of
the city |
NA
|
C_
Constructing new military base |
|
9_May_04 |
Al
Qarara area to the south of
Kissufim colony |
of
Suleiman Abu Hajaj |
D_
Demolishing 1 house |
|
10_May_04 |
Abu Hadaf and Abu Hajaj neighborhoods in Al Qarara area to the
south of Kissufim colony |
NA
|
O_30
houses are threatened to be demolished |
|
10_May_04 |
Al Qarara area to the north of Khan Yunis city |
Nahed Muhammad Abu Hadaf, Khalaf Abu Hajaj, Salman Abu Hajaj,
Sami Abu Hajaj, Saleh Abu Hadah, Ayman Abu Hadaf, Saber Abu
Dayer and Feda El Sumari |
D_
Demolishing 14 house |
|
10_May_04 |
Al Qarara area to the north of Khan Yunis city |
‘Abed El Rahem El Sumairi, ‘Abed Allah El Sumairi, Khalaf Abu
Hajaj |
S_
razing 30 dunums of land with several numbers of plastic
houses |
|
10_May_04 |
Abu Hadaf area east of El Qarara area to the north of Khan
Yunis city |
Abu Hajaj, Abu Hadaf and El Zar family |
S_
razing vast areas of land |
|
11_May_04 |
Abu Hadaf area to the northeast of Al Qarara |
Hatim Abu Hadaf |
D_
Demolishing 1 house |
|
11_May_04 |
Tel Zu’rub area in Rafah governorate south of Gaza Strip |
Suleiman Breka |
D_
Demolishing a
four-storey house |
|
11_May_04 |
Tel Zu’rub area in Rafah governorate south of Gaza Strip |
Khaled Zu’rub |
D_
Demolishing a
two-storey house |
|
11_May_04 |
north of Qush Qatef block of colonies |
NA
|
C_
Constructing the new neighborhood ”Moshav Qatef” containing 30
housing units |
|
11_May_04 |
the northwestern area of Abu El ‘Ajin junction east of Deir El
Balah city |
NA
|
C_
Constructing the Segregation Fence alongside Kisuffim road |
|
11_May_04 |
south of El Zaytoun neighborhood |
Hasab Allah family |
D_
Demolishing a factory |
|
11_May_04 |
Al Brazil neighborhood south of Rafah city |
‘Abed El Qader |
D_
Demolishing 1 house |
|
12_May_04 |
El Zaytoun neighborhood southeast of Gaza city |
Ashour family |
D_
Demolishing a four-storey house |
|
12_May_04 |
El Zaytoun neighborhood southeast of Gaza city |
Higo family |
D_
Demolishing a five-storey house |
|
12_May_04 |
El Zaytoun neighborhood southeast of Gaza city |
Saq Allah family |
D_
Demolishing a three-storey house |
|
12_May_04 |
Al Brazil neighborhood near the Palestinian_ Egyptian borders |
El Sha’er family |
D_
Demolishing 1 house |
|
13_May_04 |
Block (O) camp |
Hassan El Dam+ Sha’th family
|
D_
Demolishing 2 houses |
|
13_May_04 |
east Salaheldin road to the north of El Qarara town |
Abu Holy, Abu ‘Abe din, El Qudra, Abu Salim, Abu Hajaj and Abu
Hadah families |
C_
Constructing a new Segregation Fence on the 100 dunums of
lands which will connect Qush Qatef block of colonies and
Kissufim road with the Armistice line (Green line) |
|
14_May_04 |
Abu Qeshta neighbourhood in Rafah city |
Ashraf Abu Qeshta |
D_
Demolishing 1 house |
|
15_May_04 |
Near Gaza port west of Gaza city |
Akram El Hitto |
D_
Demolishing 1 house |
|
15_May_04 |
In the middle of Rafah city south of Gaza Strip |
Muhammad El Sheikh Khalil |
D_
Demolishing 1 house |
|
16_May_04 |
Block (O) campand Qishta neighborhood south of Rafah |
Palestinian houses |
D_
Demolishing completely 70 house, 22 partially and 20 were
severely damaged |
|
16_May_04 |
Block (O) campand Qishta neighborhood south of Rafah |
NA |
D_
Demolishing “Thu El Nureen” Mosque |
Source: ARIJ Data Base, 2004
{S =
Seizure, E = Expansion, C = Construction, R = Roads, D = Demolition,
U=Uprooting, O = Others.}
According to a report issued by the Palestinian center for human
rights (PCHRGAZA), the IOF
demolished more than 3000 houses in the
West Bank and
Gaza Strip during the last three years, out of which 1059 houses
were demolished in Rafah constituting 60% of the total number of
houses demolished in the city. According to the report, a total of
8472 Palestinians were made homeless and further 13600 Palestinians
have witnessed the destruction of their belongingness.
The policy of demolition of civilian houses in Rafah camp was
carried out unlawfully and is an act of collective punishment,
breaching UN laws and Geneva conventions specifically article 53 of
1949 to which Israel is a High Contracting Party states: "Any
destruction by the occupying power of real or personal property
belonging individually or collectively to private person, or to the
State, or to other public authorities, or to social or co-operative
organizations, is prohibited, except where such destruction is
rendered absolutely necessary by military operations."
Rafah City:-
The
repeatedly Israeli incursion into the city of
Rafah
disregard all accords Israel signed with the Palestinians, and
illustrates its unwillingness to realize equitable peace. The city
of
Rafah has
been undergoing a massive Israeli operation for the Fifth day in row
which resulted in the demolition of at least 82 homes, 23 commercial
properties, a mosque and civilian properties in addition to the
destruction of Rafah infra structure (Water networks, electricity
and telephone poles) according to PCHRGAZA statistics. See
Photo 4,
Photo 5 and
map of location
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Palestinian Residents settling in Rafah city, mainly in Block (O)
and Block (J) where the violations are taking place, appealed to the
Israeli High court of Justice to stop the demolition of houses which
according to Israeli sources is carried out to prevent the
penetrating of weapons from tunnels claimed to be dug by
Palestinians.
On
May 16, 2004, The
Israeli court rejected the appeal which gave the Israeli army the
green line to continue with their massive operation of house
demolitions under the pretext of urgent military need. See
Photo 6,
Photo 7,
Photo 8 &
photo 9
Going on with its plan,
Israel announced on the 18 of May its intent to erect a trench that
is 20m in depth and 60-80m in width at the Palestinian-Egyptian
borders to construct a water canal which will completely separate
the Egyptian border from the Palestinian Territory.
See photo as published in
Israel TV
Channel 2.
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The proposed plan “canal” is 150 meters far from the houses located
adjacent to the border with
Egypt and
will cause the destruction of an unprecedented number of houses if
truly implemented. The area where the canal to be built is also
known as Philadelphi Route (running
between the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula and dividing Egyptian
Rafah from Palestinian Rafah) and
has been under the exclusive Israeli control ever since the second
Intifada started. The Israeli claims behind building the tunnel is
to reduce the efficacy of missile attacks on Israeli army vehicles,
at the same time to prevent Palestinians from erecting weapon
smuggling tunnels between Egypt and south of Gaza Strip, while the
aim is far beyond such claims since the Israeli plan intends to cut
off the Palestinian territory from its neighboring countries; thus
paralyzing its economical activity .
During the last three and a half years, Rafah city has undergone
many Israeli military operations which caused huge destruction to
the city and its camps. The Israeli army often eluded their
operations to a variety of justifications mainly for security
reasons seeking the protection of its people.
Same
happened on the 11th of October 2003, where the Israeli
army carried out a military operation in Rafah city under the
pretext of searching for and shutting down what Israelis refer to as
“arms-smuggling tunnels”, claiming the existence of 13 secret
tunnels along the Egyptian border area., While the military
operation aimed at creating a buffer zone to increase the Israeli
control in the area through demolition operations, at the same time,
facilitating the building of the a 7 Km long and 8 meters high
Segregation Wall alongside the Egyptian border to the south of Rafah
town and to cut any connection between the Palestinian territories
and any neighboring Arab country.
The Israeli Forces also continued to close all entrances leading to
Rafah city aiming at isolating it from the neighboring cities at the
same time restricting the movement of Palestinians aging under than
35. The Israeli army, repeatedly broke into the areas under full
Palestinian control violating
all
agreements signed with the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)
in which the guiding principles of these agreements were ‘Land for
Peace’ and the United Nations Resolutions 242 and 338 which
imply an Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
back to the borders of June 4th, 1967.
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