Press Release

 

Further Escalation of Settlement Activity in Gaza Strip

 

Ref.,: 91/99

Date: 26^th September 1999

As the final status negotiations begin, the Palestinian territories are being subjected to aggressive activities by Israeli settlers who are protected in their actions by Israeli soldiers. The aim of these attacks is to change the geographical characteristics of the area, and to annex more of the Palestinian territories to Israel. On September 16, 1999, a group of settlers accompanied by Israeli bulldozers leveled twenty dunums of land located alongside Al-Malalha community in the east of Rafah Mawasi. These activities pave the road for the settlers to control the land in question, and to annex it to Gush Katif settlements.

At the same time, during the last week Israeli Military forces have carried out activities aimed at expanding a military installation in Gaza Strip. Towards this end, Israeli bulldozers have damaged one dunum of land planted with potatoes, located alongside the military installation on the western side. Also, during the last month, the occupation forces have carried out land leveling activities aimed at building a new settlement road connecting Gan Or, Gadid, and Bedolah settlements from the west.

Furthermore, and in an attempt to change the geographical characteristics of the area, the settlers steal sand from the areas alongside the settlements. The sand is used in settlement building activities, and in expanding the size of the planted areas in these settlements. Sometimes the sand is smuggled to the Israeli territories, or used to pave Palestinian land as an initial step towards controlling it.

At the beginning of this month, a group of settlers from Netzarim settlement (located to south of Gaza city), with support from Israeli soldiers, removed a large quantity of sand from the area located to the south of the settlement to inside the settlement. The sand is being used to continue building work inside the settlement. The building work started in 1989, and is aimed at increasing the housing units in the settlement in order to absorb new settlers.

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the expansionist settlement policy pursued by Israeli Occupation forces, and reaffirms its condemnation of Israeli policies aimed at changing the geographical character of the Palestinian territories. Such policies contradict and violate international law, and in particular the United Nation Resolutions. In this regard, PCHR repeat its call for the international community, particularly the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to uphold their responsibilities and take actions against Israel’s ongoing grave violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

 

Palestinian Center for Human Rights

Tel/Fax: (+) 9727 2824776 / 2823725

E-mail: [email protected]