Crimes against Humanity in Gaza Strip

20,October,2004

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 the three-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 the two-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_ Razing 20 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 into a 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 ARIJ