Under the Israeli slogan of ''LAND WITH NO PEOPLE'', the Israeli Occupation Forces continued to demolish Palestinian houses in the West Bank and Gaza Strip under different pretexts as an act of collective punishment and a grave breach of international humanitarian law.
On November 11, 2003, the Israeli bulldozers backed by several armored vehicles staged into block (O) area to the south of Rafah city, on the Palestinian-Egyptian borders and demolished 20 houses turning them into a heap of rubble, as a result 50 families (250 dwellers) were displayed by this violent operation. See Photo 1
Photo courtesy of http://rafah.virtualactivism.net
The houses were severely damaged in the last invasion into Rafah governorate dated on October 10, 2003, which resulted in demolishing more than 114 houses and caused severe damages to another 117 houses. The Israeli activity is conducted under the pretext of ''Uncover arms-smuggling tunnels. See Photo 2, Photo 3 and Photo 4
Photo courtesy of http://rafah.virtualactivism.net
This offensive Israeli attack against the Palestinian cities and villages is one of the continuous series of attacks, which aim at evacuating the land from its legitimate Palestinian owner to create a buffer zone at the borders between the Palestinian-Egyptian borders and Rafah city in order to cut the link between the Palestinian territories and its neighbouring Arab Republic of Egypt. See satellite image
Hundreds of Palestinian families lost their homes and shelters due to the above-mentioned Israeli measures. Dwellers were seen sifting through the rubble of their homes trying to salvage clothes, furniture, personal belongings and even school books. . See Photo 5 & Photo 6 &
c
Photo courtesy of http://rafah.virtualactivism.net
The act of demolition is one of the acts considered as a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War which prohibits: 'Any destruction by the Occupying Power of real or personal property belonging individually or collectively to private persons, or to the State, or to other public authorities, or to social or cooperative organizations … except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations.'
The act of demolition is one of the acts considered as a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War which prohibits: 'Any destruction by the Occupying Power of real or personal property belonging individually or collectively to private persons, or to the State, or to other public authorities, or to social or cooperative organizations … except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations.'
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2. IOF Impair the Gaza Strip, in partnership with 'PCHRGAZA', September 20, 2003
Prepared by:
The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem
