Crimes against Humanity in Gaza Strip

Crimes against Humanity in Gaza Strip

In cooperation with PCHRGAZA

 

Ethnic Cleansing is the term that describes Israel's practices in Gaza northern districts. The policy of demolition of civilian houses in the northern districts of the 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.'

 

 

Photo 1 & Photo 2

 

The Israeli forces constantly stressed out the significance of the Israeli military operations in Gaza Strip as to protect Israeli civilians living in settlements of the strip. Brining to a stand-still situation, the Israeli Occupying Forces have continually engaged into wide-scale military operations and caused damaged to many Palestinian buildings and rendered families in a state of disorder.

 

 

 

Photo 3 & Photo 4

According to ARIJ Database, during the period of August 2004-October 11th, an unprecedented number of houses were demolished as the Israeli Forces committed the worst of crimes against humans and land. A total of 346 Palestinian houses were completely demolished, in addition to 909 dunums of agricultural lands planted with 13700 fruitful trees were razed. Table one below illustrates the Israeli violations in the last three months.

  

Table 1: The Israeli violations in Gaza Strip since August 2004 until the 11th of October 2004: 

Date

No. of Houses Demolished

No. of dunums confiscated /razed

No. of trees uprooted

August

118

441

850

September

167

235

9645

October

61

233

3235

Total

346

909

13730

Source: ARIJ Database 2004

  

Chart one below is an illustration of the Israeli violations in the northern districts listed in Table 1.

 

 Source: ARIJ Database 2004

 

 

 

Photo 5 & Photo 6 &

 

 

The Israeli forces, stepped up its violations in Gaza Strip as it incurred on September 30, 2004, into areas of the northern Gaza Strip and took up positions around Beit Hanoun, Jabalya, Beit Lahya cities and Jabalya refugee camp, destroying the infrastructure of the cities to clear the path for the military operation to take place in the area. Gaza Northern areas constitute a total population of 400.000+, about 40% of Gaza Strip total population.  See Table 2 below.

 

Table 2: Area of violation and number of population.

Area of Violation

Population 2003

Jabalya

159,003

Beit Lahya

53,689

Beit Hanoun

29,024

Jabalya Including Camp

159,003

(c) www.citypopulation.de, Thomas Brinkhoff, 2003-09-06

 

 

 

Photo 7 & Photo 8: Destruction of Infrastructure

 

The massive Israeli operation was executed under the pretext of providing security to the neighboring Israeli settlements of Elei Sinai, Dugit and Nisanit. The operation resulted in the death of 100+ Palestinian citizens, among of which, 30 children were killed; more than 400 were injured, and a total of 61 homes were demolished.

 

The military operation did not stop at that limit as the Israeli forces escalated their violations to include medical personnel and ambulance cars. Ambulances were prevented from reaching places of incidents to provide medical treatment for injured Palestinians.  

 

Schools were also a target of the Israeli missiles. The IOF have demolished schools and kinder gardens in the northern Gaza Strip, forfeiting students of their right to education, breaching all international laws  and resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 1966 which stresses that: ''The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to education. They agree that education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and the sense of its dignity, and shall strengthen the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. They further agree that education shall enable all persons to participate effectively in a free society, promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations and all racial, ethnic or religious groups, and further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace .''

 

 

 

Photo 9 & Photo 10: Targeting Schools in Gaza Northern Districts

 

According to ARIJ Database, during the period of Israeli incursion to Gaza Northern areas, a total of 233 dunums of Palestinian lands were razed, 61 houses were demolished and 3235 fruitful trees were uprooted.Table 3, Table 4, Table 5 and Table 6 below detail the Israeli violations during the period of the Israeli incursion into Gaza northern districts.

 

Table 3:  Total Israeli violations in the northern districts during the last Israeli incursion to the areas 

October

No.

Chart 2: Illustration of Table 3

Houses demolished

61

 

Land razed in dunums

233

Trees uprooted

3235

Source: ARIJ Database 2004
 

Map 1: Location map of Gaza northern districts

 

 

 Table 4: The Israeli violations (House Demolition) Gaza northern districts Strip during the last Israeli incursion to the areas

Date

Location

Owner

Type of Violation

30_ Sep_ 2004

Tel Al Za'tar neighborhood to the north of Jabalya camp

Al Kat and Dayf families

D_ Demolishing 2 houses

30_ Sep_ 2004

Jabalya refugee camp to the north of Gaza Strip

Dr. Muhammad Al Sharafi

O_ Partially demolishing one house

30_ Sep_ 2004

Southeast of Jabalya refugee camp

Mahmoud Yunis Al Najar

O_ One house threatened of demolition

30_ Sep_ 2004

Jabalya refugee camp to the north of the Gaza Strip

               

                NA

D_ Demolishing 3 houses

1_Oct_2004

Beit Hanun passage to the north of Gaza Strip

                NA

O_ partially demolishing the president palace

2_Oct_2004

Al Sika Street to the west of Beit Hanun

Wael Al Basyoni

O_ partially demolishing one house

2_Oct_2004

East of Jabalya refugee camp to the north of the Strip

'Ali Salem Al Manay'a, 'Abed El Hadi Dhaher and Omar Salem Abu Jarad

D_ Demolishing three houses two of them are composed of two floors

2_Oct_2004

East of Jabalya refugee camp to the north of the Strip

 

D_ demolishing Al Bukhary Mosque

3_Oct_2004

Al Sika Street to the west of Beit Hanun city

'Aref Al Za'anin

D_ Demolishing a house

3_Oct_2004

Tel Al Za'tar area north of Jabalya cam

Abu El Jedyan, Al Kahlout and Abu Kas families

D_ Demolishing several numbers of houses

3_Oct_2004

Near Beit Hanun passage north of the Strip

 

D_ Demolishing 30 commercial stores

3_Oct_2004

Near Al Bashir Mosque in Tel Al Za'tar

Jaber Abu 'Okal

D_ Demolishing a kinder garden

3_Oct_2004

'Ireba village facing Morag settlement

 

D_ Partially demolishing five houses with more than 10 sheep farms

5_Oct_2004

East of Beit Hanun city to the north of the Gaza Strip

Khaled Yousef Al Za'anin

D_ Demolishing of one house

5_Oct_2004

East of Beit Lahya

Muhammad and Ahmad Mtayr

D_ Demolishing two houses

5_Oct_2004

Tel El Za'tar area near Jabalya camp

families of 'Abed Rabou, Al Bayari, Al Jamal and Stayh

D_ Demolishing 4 houses

5_Oct_2004

Al Sika Street to the east of Jabalya camp

Abu Rukba family

D_ Demolishing of 1 house

5_Oct_2004

Close to Gane Tal settlement

Al Astal and Hijazy families

O_ Threatened houses

5_Oct_2004

Al Shaga'iya neighborhood to the east of Gaza city

Marshoud family

O_ Threatened houses

5_Oct_2004

East of El Sheikh Zaied city in Tel Al Za'tar neighborhood

Al Zawar'a and Abu Hashesh families

D_ Demolishing of houses

6_Oct_2004

Al Rabawat Al Gharbiya area in Khan Yunis district

Ibrahim Hijazy

D_ Demolishing thethree-storey house

6_Oct_2004

Beit Hanun city

Ahmad Hussein Odeh

O_ Partially demolishing a house

6_Oct_2004

Beit Hanun city

Fuad Al Shobaky

D_ Demolishing thetwo-storey house

6_Oct_2004

Near Erez checkpoint

 

D_ Demolishing a building

6_Oct_2004

Al Satr El Gharby area to the northwest of Khan Yunis city

Al Astal family

D_ Demolishing 4 houses

6_Oct_2004

Jabalya town

Hasoneh family

D_ Demolishing industrial workshop

7_Oct_2004

South of Deir El Balah

Nasar Al Flit

D_ Demolishing a house

7_Oct_2004

Al Mahata area in the middle of the Gaza Strip

 

O_ Threatened houses

7_Oct_2004

Qlabu area

'Aref and 'Atef Al Dahnun

D_ Demolishing 2 houses

7_Oct_2004

Jabalya camp

Saber Abu Frah

O_ Partially demolishing a house

7_Oct_2004

Tel El Za'tar area

 

D_ Demolishing Jabalya youth club

7_Oct_2004

Beit Hanun town

Bashir Sa'adat, Deeb Na'im and Sha'ban Qarmut

D_ Demolition of houses

7_Oct_2004

Al Rabawat Al Gharbiya area to the north of Khan Yunis

Qasem Al Bihary, Bilal 'Bayed, Samer Abu T'ameh, Khaled Al 'Azazy, Isma'il Al Astal, Hussein Al 'Adeny and Maher Saqer

D_ Demolishing 7 houses

8_Oct_2004

Near Salah El Din Street west of Beit Hanun city

Riyad Sa'adat

D_ Demolishing  two-storey house

9_Oct_2004

Beit Hanun town

Fadi Al Za'anin

D_ Demolishing  a house

9_Oct_2004

She'sha'a area in Tel El Za'tar neighborhood

Diab Al D'afy

D_ Demolishing  a house

10_Oct_2004

'Ireba area to the northwest of Rafah district

 Ahmad Al Tarabin sons, 'Eid Al 'Arjany sons, Salameh El Tarabin sons, Salimeh 'Eiyada Abu Samhadana, 'Ayad 'Atta Allah Al 'Arjany, Ghanema 'Abed al Tarabin, Walid Wasfi Abu Samhadana, Farhana Farid Abu Samhadana and Deeb Odeh Abu Samhadana

D_ Demolition of houses

10_Oct_2004

Beit Hanun town

'Atta Kamal Al Shenbary

O_ Burning a house

10_Oct_2004

Al Khulafa El Rashidin area to the east of Jabalya camp

Al 'Ajramy family

D_ Demolition of a house

10_Oct_2004

Rafah city to the south of the Strip on the Palestinian- Egyptian borders

 

O_ partially demolishing a house

 

 Table 5: The Israeli violations (land razing and uprooting of trees) in Gaza northern districts during the last Israeli Incursion to the areas.  

Date

location

Owner

Violation

1_Oct_2004

The middle of Gaza

Al Laham and Bashir families

U_ Uprooting hundreds of Olives and Citrus trees

1_Oct_2004

Around Beit Hanun passage to the north of the Strip

Abu Jarad family

S_ Razing several numbers of dunums cultivated with Olives

2_Oct_2004

West of Salah Al Din Street to the north of Gaza Strip

'Ali Al Ranand Issa Hamuda

S_ Razing agricultural lands cultivated with Olives and Fruit

2_Oct_2004

West of Salah Al Din Street to the north of Gaza Strip

Al 'Aklouk family

S_ Razing 10 dunums of agricultural lands cultivated with Citrus

3_Oct_2004

Near Al Bashir Mosque in Tel Al Za'tar

Mas'oud family

S_ Razing a green house cultivated with Citrus and Olives

3_Oct_2004

North of Gaza International Airport

Abu Isnaneh and Al Deyari families

S_ Razing 30 dunums of lands planted with Almonds

5_Oct_2004

East of Beit Hanun city to the north of the Gaza Strip

Khaled Yousef Al Za'anin

S_ Razing 3 dunums cultivated with Olives

5_Oct_2004

Northeast of Jabalya camp north of the Strip

 

S_ Razing Talet Qlabu

6_Oct_2004

Beit Lahya town to the north of the Strip

Felfel family

S_ Razing of lands

6_Oct_2004

Beit Hanun city

Ahmad Hussein Odeh

S_ Razing20 dunums of lands cultivated with Citrus

6_Oct_2004

Al Satr El Gharby area to the northwest of Khan Yunis city

Al Astal and Agha families

S_ Razing 50 dunums of lands cultivated with Olives and Palms

7_Oct_2004

Beit Lahya

Rajab and Al Masri

S_ Razing of lands cultivated with Citrus

7_Oct_2004

Beit Hanun town

Na'im, Abu Odeh and Sa'adat families

S_ Razing tens of dunums of lands

7_Oct_2004

Al Rabawat Al Gharbiya area to the north of Khan Yunis

 

S_ Razing 15 plastic houses and 100 dunums of agricultural lands

9_Oct_2004

Al Mugraqa area to the south of Gaza city

Al Ris family

S_ Razing tens of dunums of agricultural lands cultivated with Citrus

9_Oct_2004

She'sha'a area in Tel El Za'tar neighborhood

Abed Rabou family

S_ Razing tens of dunums of agricultural lands

10_Oct_2004

'Ireba area to the northwest of Rafah district

Abu Khetla, Abu 'Ajala, Fugu and Dahlez families

S_ Razing vast areas  of agricultural lands

10_Oct_2004

Beit Hanun city

Al Basuny, Hamad Al Za'anin and Rushdy

S_ Razing 20 dunums

 

 Table 6: The Israeli violations (Construction of new military bases and watch points) in Gaza northern districts during the last Israeli incursion to the areas.

Date

location

Owner

Violation

1_Oct_2004

Tel Al Za'tar area to the north of Jabalya camp

                       NA

C_ constructing new military base

2_Oct_2004

Talet Qlabu to the east of Beit Lahya north of the Strip

   NA

C_ constructing new military watch point

3_Oct_2004

Al Sika and Al Sultan 'Abed El Hamid Streets west of Beit Hanun city

 NA

C_ constructing new military base

3_Oct_2004

North of the Strip

 NA

C_ Erecting 6-9 Km width security zone

6_Oct_2004

South of Beit Hanun town north of the Strip

 NA

C_ constructing new military base

7_Oct_2004

Al Anwar neighborhood

Abu Shubak family

O_ Burning a farm

11_Oct_2004

Jabalya camp

Al Khulafa El Rashidin Mosque

O_ Put fire intoa library

Source: ARIJ Database 2004

D= Demolition, C= Construction, U= Uprooting, S= Razing, O= Others

 

At the time Sharon is talking about 'Disengaging from Gaza' which includes withdrawal from certain military installations and all settlements from Gaza Strip in addition to certain Israeli military installations and settlements in the West Bank, the Israeli bulldozers are razing lands, uprooting trees and demolishing Palestinian houses to implement its geographical plans. Furthermore the IO bulldozers started erecting a new security zone of 6-9 KM width north of the Strip on the expense of Palestinian agricultural lands. The security zone contradicts Sharon's declarations of evacuating from Gaza Strip Settlements as this security zone will isolate Gaza northern districts from its southern ones, making room for future plans.

  

Related articles

 

 

 

 

 

Prepared by:
The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem

Categories: Israeli Violations