The nonstop campaign of house demolition in Gaza Strip

In cooperation with the Palestinian Center for Human Rights – Gaza

PCHRGAZA

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 Philadelphi 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: 

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 

 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 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 and

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. .

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. Click here for more details

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.

Prepared by:
The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem