- This morning, Wednesday, October 1, 2003, Israeli occupying
forces demolished 18 houses in Block L of the Rafah refugee camp, in the
southern Gaza Strip. The demolition operation took place under intense
shelling and indiscriminate shooting within the camp and was followed by
further shelling as Israeli forces withdrew.
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- The operation left 270 Palestinian, mostly children,
homeless, adding to the thousands of other Palestinian civilians made homeless
in similar Israeli military operations throughout the Occupied Palestinian
Territories (OPT). Since the beginning of Al Aqsa Intifada (September 2000),
Israeli occupying forces have demolished hundreds of Palestinian homes
in Rafah in similar operations, justified by Israeli authorities for 'security'
reasons. However, the facts on the ground prove that these demolitions
represent a strategic policy to clear a large area of Palestinian land
near the border with Egypt to facilitate a wide buffer zone to increase
Israeli military control in the area. Israeli forces have begun construction
of a concrete and metal wall parallel to the border with Egypt on land
cleared of Palestinian homes in similar demolition operations.
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- According to PCHR's investigations, at approximately
1am, Israeli occupying forces invaded the area, accompanied by tanks and
4 bulldozers, and moved 200m inside Block L in Rafah refugee camp, located
adjacent to the Palestinian border with Egypt. Under heavy shelling, bulldozers
started to demolish houses inside the camp without any prior warning and
without allowing the residents to remove belongings from their homes. The
military operation continued until 5am, during which time 18 homes were
demolished; 13 completely demolished, 5 partially demolished.
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- As a result of the operation, 44 Palestinian families
(270 people, mostly children) were made homeless. During the invasion,
Israeli occupying forces raided the home of Ahmed Jaber, using it as a
military post from which they shot at Palestinian civilians in the area.
Two Palestinians were injured during the attack, one seriously: Kamal Ezzidine
Al Bashiti, 47, sustained serious shrapnel wounds to the head; and Khairi
Abed Barhoum, 37, shrapnel wound to the right hand.
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- PCHR remains deeply concerned about the ongoing violations
of international human rights and humanitarian law, carried out by Israeli
occupying forces against the Palestinian civilian population in the OPT.
PCHR has consistently reiterated its concerns about the Israeli policy
of demolishing Palestinian civilian property, including homes, educational
and health facilities, commercial properties, and civilian infrastructure.
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- The extensive destruction of civilian property, carried
out wantonly and unlawfully without military necessity, constitutes a grave
breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention. PCHR reasserts that the ongoing
failure of the international community, specifically the High Contracting
Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to intervene to ensure protection
for the Palestinian civilian population has served to encourage further
violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. Thus, PCHR
calls upon the international community to take immediate steps to ensure
the protection of the Palestinian civilian population in the OPT.
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