Violating international laws … Disproportionate re-incursion of Palestinian communities in Gaza Strip
''The Israeli demolition comes without pre-notification, a single tank shells fire straight into the Palestinian houses .. inhabitants must run under heavy barrage of gunfire capturing their children and scattering into the night .''
This is the normal life of Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip who have been facing the brutal Israeli aggression since the beginning of the second Intifada, three and a half years ago. On the 28 June 2004, the Israeli Forces backed with several numbers of tanks reinforced by Israeli helicopters incurred into the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun and the neighboring Jabalya city imposing a tight closure on the Palestinian citizens and isolating the town from the other Palestinian districts by closing all of its entrances with earth mounds alongside Salah El Din Street which connects north of the Strip with its south, killing thirteen Palestinians including three children and a woman. In addition, the IOF razed hundreds dunums of agricultural lands cultivated with Fruitful trees, mostly Olives.
Since the beginning of July 2004, the IOF demolished 34 Palestinian houses, razed 134 dunums of agricultural lands cultivated with Fruitful trees and mowed more than 3000 trees all under the pretext of providing security for the Israeli city ''Sedirot'' and also looking for armed smuggling tunnels in the area. See Photo 1 & Photo 2
The table below illustrates the number of houses demolished and lands razed in the Gaza Strip during the period of 1-12 of July, 2004.
Table 1: Total of houses demolished and land razed during the period of 1-12 July 2004:
|
Houses demolished |
Houses threatened |
Land razed/ Dunum |
Land threatened /Dunum |
Uprooted trees |
|
34 |
3 |
134 |
15 |
3100 |
Source: ARIJ Database 2004
Table two also specifics the Israeli violations committed during the period of 1- 12 July 2004, in the Gaza Strip.
Table 2: Detailed table of the Israeli violations in Gaza Strip during the period of 1- 12 July 2004
|
Date |
Location |
Violation |
Owners |
|
1_July-_2004 |
East of Beit Hanun town |
U_ Uprooting of Citrus trees |
|
|
1_July-_2004 |
From the northern borders of the Strip to circulate Beit Hanun town |
P_ plans to create a 5km security zone |
|
|
1_July-_2004 |
Qizan Al Najjar area east of Khan Yunis city |
D_ Demolition of 13 houses |
Palestinian families |
|
1_July-_2004 |
Qizan Al Najjar area east of Khan Yunis city |
D_ Demolition of 3 sheep farms |
Naser 'Ashour, 'Abed el Karim Abu Omran and Nathem Sha'th |
|
1_July-_2004 |
Qizan Al Najjar area east of Khan Yunis city |
O_ 15 dunums are threatened of being razed |
Palestinian families |
|
1_July-_2004 |
Qizan Al Najjar area east of Khan Yunis city |
O_ 3 houses are threatened of demolition |
Ahmad Abu Nar, Naser 'Ashour and 'Abed El Karim Abu Omran |
|
1_July-_2004 |
Al Qarara area to the north of Khan Yunis |
S_ Razing agricultural land cultivated with Guava |
Jabara Al Fara |
|
1_July-_2004 |
Between the industrial zone and Abu Safiya area in Beit Hanun city |
C_ Constructing new military base |
|
|
1_July-_2004 |
Al Qarara town to the north of Khan Yunis |
D_ Demolishing of Al Qudra Mosque |
|
|
1_July-_2004 |
Shehabar land to the east of Gaza city |
S_ Razing of agricultural lands |
|
|
2_July-_2004 |
Jabalya town to the north of the Strip |
S_ Razing of agricultural lands |
|
|
2_July-_2004 |
Beit Hanun town |
S_ Razing the 24 dunums of a plastic house cultivated with Citrus |
Mahmoud Al Masri |
|
2_July-_2004 |
Al Brazil neighborhood in Rafah city |
D_ Demolition of 8 houses and 7 commercial stores |
Palestinian families |
|
2_July-_2004 |
south of Al Matahen checkpoint and east of Salaheldin road |
C_ Erection of two meters earth mounds |
|
|
2_July-_2004 |
east of Beit Hanun town north of the Strip |
D_ Demolition of a poultry farm |
Muhammad Al Kafarneh |
|
2_July-_2004 |
east of Beit Hanun town north of the Strip |
S_ Razing agricultural land cultivated with Citrus, Olives and Almonds |
Omar Al Kafarneh, Shakir Shabat and 'Atiya 'Ali |
|
2_July-_2004 |
Al Farta neighborhood to the east of Beit Hanun |
D_ Demolition of a house |
Martyr Muhammad Dayf Allah |
|
3_July-_2004 |
Beit Hanun town to the north of the Strip |
S_ Razing 10 dunums of agricultural land cultivated with fruitful trees |
Mahmoud 'Abed El Hadi Hamad |
|
3_July-_2004 |
Al Farta area to the east of Beit Hanun town |
S_ Razing hundreds of dunums of agricultural land cultivated with Olives and Citrus |
Amen Abu Odeh, 'Abed El Qader Abu Odeh, Mahmoud Hamad, Khalil Al Masri, Omar Al Kafarneh |
|
3_July-_2004 |
East of Jabalya camp |
S_ Razing 100 dunums cultivated with Citrus and Fruits |
'Abed Rabou, Al Batsh, Al Zein and 'Eid families |
|
4_July-_2004 |
Around Dwar Hamuda to the north of the Strip |
U_ uprooting hundreds of Citrus trees |
Al Dahnun, Qlaybu and Hamuda families |
|
5_July-_2004 |
Al Zaytoun neighborhood, Jabalya camp and Al Nusayrat neighborhood |
D_ Destroying three lethal workshops |
Shenora, Abu Kwayk families and Sabir Al Hadidi |
|
5_July-_2004 |
Abu Dhaher area to the south of Kissufem road |
C_ Erecting a trench around the Israeli military base |
|
|
5_July-_2004 |
100m away to the southwest of Kissufem road |
C_ Erecting new road |
Al Masri family |
|
6_July-_2004 |
The western camp of Khan Yunis |
O_ Burning three houses |
The house of 'Ali Abu Mustafa was known |
|
6_July-_2004 |
Around Bahloul building in Al Brazil neighborhood |
S_ Razing vast areas of lands |
|
|
6_July-_2004 |
East of Jabalya camp near Salaheldin road |
S_ Razing plastic houses and agricultural land cultivated with Citrus and Olives |
Al Jamal and Abu Warda families |
|
6_July-_2004 |
Khan Yunis camp |
O_ Burning a house |
Omar Qanan |
|
6_July-_2004 |
In the entrance of Beit Hanun town to the north of the Strip |
D_ Demolishing a concrete factory |
'Abed El Latif Abu Odeh |
|
6_July-_2004 |
In the entrance of Beit Hanun town to the north of the Strip |
D_ Demolishing a house |
Khamis Al Majdalawi |
|
7_July-_2004 |
North of Kissufem road east of Deir El Balah |
D_ Demolishing a house |
Fawzi Abu Sha'ar |
|
7_July-_2004 |
Al Brazil neighborhood on the Palestinian_ Egyptian borders |
D_ Demolishing several numbers of houses and commercial stores |
Abu Libda and Al Basheti families were known |
|
7_July-_2004 |
East of Beit Hanun town |
D_ Demolishing a poultry farm |
Naser Al Za'anen |
|
8_July-_2004 |
West of Khan Yunis district near Neve Dekalim settlement |
D_ Demolishing three houses |
Salem Al Zaradi, Husam Abu Matrud and Tayser Abu Reziq |
|
9_July-_2004 |
Qizan Al Najjar area in Khan Yunis |
D_ Demolishing three houses |
Salah, Mesleh and Jum'a Al Sha'er |
|
12_July-_2004 |
Beit Hanun town to the north of the Strip |
D_ Demolishing a house |
Ahmad Hassan Kaloub |
Source: ARIJ Database 2004
{S = Seizure, P = Plans, C = Construction, R = Roads, D = Demolition, U=Uprooting, O = Others.}
Khan Yunis Camp:-
Khan Yunis camp is located west of Khan Yunis town, at the southern part of the Gaza Strip and about two kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea shore. The refugee camp was established in 1949 following the 1948 war between the Arabs and Jews. Today, Khan Yunis camp is inhabited by 60,662 Palestinian refugees originated from the Palestinian lands occupied in 1948. The camp is divided into 13 land blocks where most of the shelters are constructed out of bricks with asbestos roofs.
On the 8th of July 2004, the IOF moved into the Khan Yunis refugee camp caused the demolition of about 28 houses, displacing 250 dwellers (44 families) and partially damaging another 10 houses where 95 inhabitants of about 18 families live. See map of incident
The table below illustrates the number of houses demolished in the camp during the last few days.
Table 3: Total of houses demolished in Khan Yunis city and its camp:
|
Date |
Location |
Violation |
Owners |
|
8_July_2004 |
Khan Yunis camp to the south of Gaza Strip |
D_ Demolition of 25 houses |
Palestinian families |
|
8_July_2004 |
Khan Yunis camp to the south of Gaza Strip |
D_ Partially demolition of 10 houses |
Palestinian families |
|
9_July_2004 |
Qizan Al Najjar area in Khan Yunis |
D_ Demolishing three houses |
Salah, Mesleh and Jum'a Al Sha'er |
|
12_July_2004 |
Al Namsawi neighborhood to the west of Khan Yunis |
D_ Demolition of 31 houses |
Palestinian families |
|
12_July_2004 |
Al Namsawi neighborhood to the west of Khan Yunis |
D_ Partially Demolishing 3 houses |
Palestinian families |
Source: ARIJ Database 2004
{D= Demolition}
Table 4: The list of owners and number of houses demolished during the incursion that took place on 8 July 2004 in Khan Yunis:
|
Owner |
Area |
No. of Families |
Type of demolition |
|
Mariam Ahmad Khalil Shaloula |
320m Asbestos+ Concrete |
4 families- 25 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Sara Ghanam Ahmad Shaloula |
80m Asbestos |
One family- 2 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Jawad Mahmoud Khalil Shaloula |
150m Asbestos+ Concrete |
One family- 5 dwellers |
Completely |
|
'Ali Ahmad Hussein Henaydek |
250m Asbestos |
4 families- 18 dwellers |
Completely |
|
'Adel Ahmad Hussein Henaydek |
150m Asbestos |
One family- 8 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Hamdan Mahmoud Ahmad Henaydek |
100m Asbestos+ Concrete |
One family- 9 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Rami Ahmad Hussein Henaydek |
150m Asbestos |
One family- 5 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Ahmad Hussein Mahmoud Henaydek |
300m Asbestos+ Concrete |
One family- 9 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Mahmoud Muhammad Khalil Shaloula |
600m Asbestos+ Concrete |
One family- 10 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Muhammad Khalil Muhammad Shaloula |
120m Asbestos |
2 families- 6 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Khader Haydar Barbakh |
170m Asbestos |
One family- 2 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Hussein Hasan Mustafa Abu Sa'ed |
160m Concrete |
4 families- 15 dwellers |
Partially |
|
Ibrahim Hashem Yousef Abu Odeh |
80m Asbestos |
One family- 3 dwellers |
Partially |
|
Muhammad Mahmoud Ahmad Henaydek |
120m Asbestos |
2 families- 13 dwellers |
Partially |
|
Suleiman Mahmoud Hasan Henaydek |
110 Concrete |
One family- 6 dwellers |
Partially |
|
Zaki Ahmad Muhammad Nasr |
120m Asbestos |
One family- 14 dwellers |
Partially |
|
Sami Abu El Khair |
90m Asbestos |
One family- 7 dwellers |
Partially |
|
Shihda Abdo Hasan Suhwail |
90m Asbestos |
One family- 8 dwellers |
Partially |
|
Safiya Isma'il Suleiman Abu Shaloula |
90m Asbestos |
2 families- 8 dwellers |
Partially |
|
Yousef Salim 'Abed Allah Al Zarabi |
120m Concrete |
One family- 9 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Nayef Muhammad 'Abed Allah Al Zarabi |
80m Asbestos |
One family- 9 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Ibrahim Salim 'Abed Allah Al Zarabi |
210m Asbestos |
3 families- 18 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Kafa Ahmad Al Zarabi |
150m Concrete |
2 families- 15 dwellers |
Partially |
|
Ahmad Hussein Mansour Abu Matroud |
250m Asbestos |
3 families- 12 dwellers |
Partially |
|
Hussein Ahmad Hussein Mansour |
180m Asbestos |
One family- 8 dwellers |
Completely |
|
'Ali Muhammad Hussein Abu Reziq |
200m Asbestos |
One family- 10 dwellers |
Completely |
|
'Ali Muhammad Hussein Abu Reziq |
120m Asbestos |
2 families- 5 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Mahmoud Muhammad Hussein Abu Reziq |
80m Asbestos |
One family- 2 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Mahmoud Muhammad Mustafa Abu Reziq |
100m Asbestos |
One family- 5 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Hussein Muhammad Hussein Abu Reziq |
120m Asbestos |
One family- 4 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Muhammad Mustafa 'Eid Abu Reziq |
80m Asbestos |
One family- 4 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Taysser Suleiman Ahmad Abu Reziq |
120m Asbestos |
One family- 7 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Muhammad Nazmi Muhammad Henaydek |
100m Asbestos |
One family- 4 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Nazmi Muhammad Ahmad Henaydek |
150m Asbestos |
One family- 9 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Muhammad Ahmad Henaydek Abu Henaydek |
120m Asbestos |
One family- 2 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Ra'ida Muhammad Ahmad Henaydek |
170m Asbestos |
One family- 4 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Rami Salah Hussein Henaydek |
120m Asbestos |
One family- 4 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Muhammad Salah Hussein Henaydek |
120m Asbestos |
One family- 4 dwellers |
Completely |
|
'Ali Ahmad Muhammad Henaydek |
100m Asbestos |
One family- 10 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Muhammad 'Ali Ahmad Henaydek |
80m Asbestos |
One family- 5 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Fayez Ahmad Hamad Henaydek |
360m Asbestos |
4 families- 16 dwellers |
Completely |
|
Ibrahim Ahmad Hamad Henaydek |
150m Asbestos |
One family- 8 dwellers |
Completely |
Source: The Palestinian center for human rights {PCHRGAZA}}
In another attack, On the 12th of July 2004, the Israeli occupying troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and helicopters, moved into Al Nemsawi neighborhood to the west of Khan Yunis coming from 'Neve Dekalim' and 'Gadid' settlements, west and south of Khan Yunis, demolished 31 houses, in which 255 people (41 families) and partially demolished 3 others, in which 20 people (3 families). Click here for related articles.' and 'Gadid' settlements, west and south of Khan Yunis, demolished 31 houses, in which 255 people (41 families) and partially demolished 3 others, in which 20 people (3 families).
The policy of demolition of civilian houses in Gaza Strip 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.'
Related articles:-
1. The nonstop campaign of house demolition in Gaza Strip, May 19, 2004
2. Land razing and house demolition in Deir El Balah city, May 11, 2004
3. Walls: Today's Fashion in Israel, March 9, 2004
4. Intensification of house demolition campaign in Gaza Strip during the year 2003. January 28, 2004
Prepared by:
The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem
