Press Release
Escalation of the Israeli Occupation Forces’ aggressions:
Destruction of buildings, damages of properties and attempts to conceal evidences of killings
Ref: 122/2000
Date: October 8, 2000
As a further step of escalation, yesterday night the Israeli Occupation Forces closed Gaza International Airport and Rafah Border Crossing at the Egyptian borders. The closure of the Gaza Strip has prevented trade activities since September 30, 2000. Since October 6, 2000 the closure has also prevented people’s movements and isolated them from the outside world as well as from the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory.
Last midnight, Israeli tanks and bulldozers invaded the area of Al-Shuhada’ Junction
(Netzarim Junction) in the middle of the Gaza Strip and destroyed two Palestinian residence buildings adjacent to the Israeli military outpost at the area, which were targeted by Israeli shooting and bombing during the past days. These two four-storey buildings consisted of 32 apartments, were evacuated by the residents who were unable to transfer furniture and properties to a safer place due to the current situation in the area. PCHR’s field officers reported that one of the two buildings was completely destroyed, the other one was partially destroyed and about to collapse. The Israeli Occupation Forces also swept citrus farms at the southeastern and southwestern sides of the junction. Moreover, the Israeli Occupation Forces demolished the wall against which Mohammed Jamal Al Durreh and his father sheltered during the shooting on September 30, 2000 by the Israeli Occupation Forces worldwide broadcast, in an apparent attempt to conceal evidences of the horrible killing of the child.
Following Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak’s threat to escalate the Israeli use of force for the next two days, the Israeli Occupation Forces shot this morning at Palestinian demonstrators at the area of Kfar Darom Settlement near Deir El-Balah, injuring 3 people. Last night, Fahed Mustafa Baker, 22 years old, from Bedia Village near Nablus, was shot dead in the head by an Israeli settler. Thus, the number of martyrs during the last 10 days has increased to 77.
