POICA-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:

# of houses demolished	# of houses partially damaged	Land Razing (Dunums)
182	76	77

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

Date	Location	Owner	Violation
1_May_04	alongside the settlement of Nave Dekalim west of Khan Yunis city	NA	C_ Constructing a 7m depth and 3m width trench
1_May_04	the western camp of Khan Yunis to the south of Gaza Strip	NA	D_ Demolition of 14 houses in between completely and partially
2_May_04	Al Qarara town north of Khan Yunis	Muhammad El Sheebi + Al Bram family	S_ Razing 5 dunums of agricultural land
2_May_04	near Kissufim military base south of the town of Al Qarara town	El Qudra and Al Zar	O_ Threatened houses
2_May_04	Abu Hadaf area in the middle of Gaza Strip	Hassan Al Zr, 'Layan Al Zar, 'Ali Al Zar, Suleiman AL Zar and Abu Hajaj family	D_ Demolishing 8 houses
2_May_04	Abu Hadaf area in the middle of Gaza Strip	Al-Masalha, Abu Sulaisel, Abu Rezeq and Abu Farra	O_ Threatened houses
2_May_04	Gaza city	Al-Aqsa local broadcasting station	D_ Demolishing of the Al-Aqsa local broadcasting station
3_May_04	Abu El 'Ajen area in the middle of Gaza Strip	Salama Abu 'Eid	D_ Demolishing several numbers of plastic houses constructed over 4 dunums of land
3_May_04	Abu El 'Ajen area in the middle of Gaza Strip	'Eid Abu 'Arabyan and Hassan Abu Meghed	D_ Demolishing two houses
3_May_04	El Sha'out and Block (J) south of Rafah city	Esam Jaber, Sa'ed Barhoum+ Saqer El Sufi	D_ Demolishing two residential buildings each composed of three stores+ a house
3_May_04	El Mughraga area to the south of Gaza city	Sa'di El Helow (Two-storey house), Muhammad 'Abed El Wahab Abu Layla, Reziq Abu Layla, Mahmoud El Helow, Najla Hatem and En'am El Najjar	D_ Demolishing 7 houses
3_May_04	El Mughraga area to the south of Gaza city	Muhammad 'Ikela and Fouad El Helow	D_ Demolishing walls that surround houses
3_May_04	El Mughraga area to the south of Gaza city	Khader Abu Layla	S_ Razing 2 dunums
3_May_04	El Mughraga area to the south of Gaza city	Saqer Abu Layla, Ahmad Abu Wali, Suleiman Abu Wali and Talal Abu Khbayza	U_ Uprooting Olive and Fruitful trees
4_May_04	High dam area in the western camp of Khan Yunis south of Gaza Strip	Palestinian families	D_ Demolishing 15 houses and other 15 were partially damaged
4_May_04	High dam area in the western camp of Khan Yunis south of Gaza Strip	El Sha'er and El Basheti families	S_ Razing 15 dunums of land cultivated with Fruitful trees
4_May_04	Batn El Samen area south of Khan Yunis city	El Sha'er, Bareka and Zu'rub families	S_ Razing 25 dunums of agricultural land cultivated with Vegetables
4_May_04	Neve Dekalim settlement	NA	C_ Constructing new neighbourhood in Neve Dekalim settlement containing 21 housing units
5_May_04	Abu 'Uref street in Deir Al Balah governorate	Fuad Abu Msabeh	D_ Demolishing a house with a cement workshop
5_May_04	Abu 'Uref street in Deir Al Balah governorate	NA	R_ Erecting a road which connects the Martyrs Street with Kfar Darom settlement
5_May_04	Abu 'Uref street in Deir Al Balah governorate	Hassan Abu Naser+ Kamil Abu Naser	R_ Razing 9 plastic houses
5_May_04	the western camp of Khan Yunis	Wael Abu Reziq, Farhan Shalula, Mahmoud Hneydek, Mahrous Hneydek, Sa'diya Shaloula, Ahmad Abu Reziq, Yasir Hneydek, Fathi Hneydek, Yousef Hneydek and Ahmad Hneydek	D_ Demolishing 15 houses in which 11 of them were completely demolished
6_May_04	Al Brazil neighbourhood	'Ayed El Basheti	D_ Demolishing a four-storey house
6_May_04	Gaza Strip	NA	C_ Constructing a Segregation Fence that runs the length of 7km long Kissufim corridor
6_May_04	Al Brazil neighbourhood southeast of Rafah city	Abed El Qader El Basheti	D_ Demolishing a three-story house
6_May_04	Al Brazil neighbourhood southeast of Rafah city	'Abed El Qader El Sha'er	D_ Demolishing a house another 7 houses were partially damaged
7_May_04	El Sater El Gharbi area west of Khan Yunis city	NA	D_ Demolishing 5 houses
7_May_04	Al Matahen area to the north of Khan Yunis	Fayez El Najeli	D_ Partially Demolition
7_May_04	El 'Arayba area north of Rafah	Sa'ed Dahlez	D_ Demolishing 1 house
7_May_04	North of Khan Yunis on the borders of Gane Tal settlement west of the city	NA	C_ Constructing new military base
9_May_04	Al Qarara area to the south of Kissufim settlement	of Suleiman Abu Hajaj	D_ Demolishing 1 house
10_May_04	Abu Hadaf and Abu Hajaj neighborhoods in Al Qarara area to the south of Kissufim settlement	NA	O_30 houses are threatened to be demolished
10_May_04	Al Qarara area to the north of Khan Yunis city	Nahed Muhammad Abu Hadaf, Khalaf Abu Hajaj, Salman Abu Hajaj, Sami Abu Hajaj, Saleh Abu Hadah, Ayman Abu Hadaf, Saber Abu Dayer and Feda El Sumari	D_ Demolishing 14 house
10_May_04	Al Qarara area to the north of Khan Yunis city	'Abed El Rahem El Sumairi, 'Abed Allah El Sumairi, Khalaf Abu Hajaj	S_ razing 30 dunums of land with several numbers of plastic houses
10_May_04	Abu Hadaf area east of El Qarara area to the north of Khan Yunis city	Abu Hajaj, Abu Hadaf and El Zar family	S_ razing vast areas of land
11_May_04	Abu Hadaf area to the northeast of Al Qarara	Hatim Abu Hadaf	D_ Demolishing 1 house
11_May_04	Tel Zu'rub area in Rafah governorate south of Gaza Strip	Suleiman Breka	D_ Demolishing a four-storey house
11_May_04	Tel Zu'rub area in Rafah governorate south of Gaza Strip	Khaled Zu'rub	D_ Demolishing a two-storey house
11_May_04	north of Qush Qatef block of settlements	NA	C_ Constructing the new neighborhood ''Moshav Qatef'' containing 30 housing units
11_May_04	the northwestern area of Abu El 'Ajin junction east of Deir El Balah city	NA	C_ Constructing the Segregation Fence alongside Kisuffim road
11_May_04	South of El Zaytoun neighborhood	Hasab Allah family	D_ Demolishing a factory
11_May_04	Al Brazil neighborhood south of Rafah city	'Abed El Qader	D_ Demolishing 1 house
12_May_04	El Zaytoun neighborhood southeast of Gaza city	Ashour family	D_ Demolishing a four-storey house
12_May_04	El Zaytoun neighborhood southeast of Gaza city	Higo family	D_ Demolishing a five-storey house
12_May_04	El Zaytoun neighborhood southeast of Gaza city	Saq Allah family	D_ Demolishing a three-storey house
12_May_04	Al Brazil neighborhood near the Palestinian- Egyptian borders	El Sha'er family	D_ Demolishing 1 house
13_May_04	Block (O) camp	Hassan El Dam+ Shaâ??th family	D_ Demolishing 2 houses
13_May_04	East Salaheldin road to the north of El Qarara town	Abu Holy, Abu 'Abe Din, El Qudra, Abu Salim, Abu Hajaj and Abu Hadah families	C_ Constructing a new Segregation Fence on the 100 dunums of lands which will connect Qush Qatef block of settlements and Kissufim road with the Armistice line (Green line)
14_May_04	Abu Qeshta neighbourhood in Rafah city	Ashraf Abu Qeshta	D_ Demolishing 1 house
15_May_04	Near Gaza port west of Gaza city	Akram El Hitto	D_ Demolishing 1 house
15_May_04	In the middle of Rafah city south of Gaza Strip	Muhammad El Sheikh Khalil	D_ Demolishing 1 house
16_May_04	Block (O) campand Qishta neighborhood south of Rafah	Palestinian houses	D_ Demolishing completely 70 house, 22 partially and 20 were severely damaged
16_May_04	Block (O) campand Qishta neighborhood south of Rafah	NA	D_ Demolishing ''Thu El Nureen'' Mosque

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 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

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 11^th 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 4^th, 1967.

Prepared by The Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem
ARIJ