Press Release

Israeli Occupation Forces Demolish Six Houses in Khan Younis

Ref: 120/99

Date: 23 November 1999

This morning, 22 November 1999, Israeli occupation forces demolished six Palestinian houses in the area under Israeli control in Khan Younis. At 1.00am an Israeli force of about 200 soldiers, accompanied by about 30 military bulldozers and vehicles, closed the area and demolished the six houses. The houses were located 150 metres to the east of an Israeli military installation (El Noriah). The houses demolished were built by civilians from Khan Younis camp on Palestinian governmental land. They were built in the context of a severe housing crisis in the area, and of extreme Israeli restrictions on building in the areas under their control.

The demolitions took place without prior notice. This step comes at the same time as the escalation of other violations against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip. These include the closure of the roads leading to the Mawasi area yesterday, as a result of which Palestinian civilians were denied access to enter or leave the area.

In a related step the Israeli occupation forces closed the Sofa crossing point into the Gaza Strip (located to the north-east of Rafah city). This closure prevented Palestinian trucks carrying building supplies from entering the Gaza Strip.

PCHR strongly condemns the house demolition policy adopted by the Occupation forces against Palestinian civilians. Moreover PCHR calls on the international community, particularly the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations in relation to Israel’s grave violations of the Convention, and to take all necessary and legal measures to protect Palestinian civilians and their property.