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.'
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.
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
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
- A disregard of Human Rights, August 19, 2004.
- Violating international laws .. Disproportionate re-incursion of Palestinian communities in Gaza Strip, July 15, 2004.
- The nonstop campaign of house demolition in Gaza Strip, May 2004.
- Oppressive Israeli measures cripple Palestinian Camps in Gaza Strip, March 2004
Prepared by:
The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem
