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Israeli occupation forces move into Rafah overnight, demolishing 22 houses in south of Rafah and south of Gaza
Date: June 23, 2001
The past 24 hours have witnessed a significant escalation in attacks launched by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians. Early this morning, Israeli occupation forces moved into the southwestern part of Rafah, adjacent to the border with Egypt. They demolished 20 Palestinian houses and swept areas of agricultural lands without any prior warning.
According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 03:20 local time, Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with tanks and bulldozers, penetrated 100m into Western Rafah, an area under full control of the Palestinian National Authority, 400m north of the border with Egypt. The Israeli forces fired dozens of artillery shells at Palestinian homes in the area, wounding Yasser ‘Abdel-Rahim Abu ‘Obeid, 33, with shrapnel to the face and left foot.
The Israeli occupation forces, equipped with loudspeakers, called upon residents of the area to leave their houses, otherwise, the houses would be demolished with their inhabitants still inside. Panicked, residents had to abandon their homes. There was no opportunity to salvage furniture or personal belongings. Jamila ‘Ali Salameh Barhoum, 32, pregnant in her sixth month, had to be evacuated to the European Hospital in Rafah, after she began bleeding heavily from a fall on the ground while escaping from her house that was later demolished.
During the Israeli penetration into Palestinian-controlled territory, which continued until 05:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces destroyed 20 homes, leaving 110 Palestinian civilians homeless, and razed areas of agricultural land planted with olives. They also destroyed five electricity towers, interrupting the electricity to the area. Following are details of the houses that were demolished in Rafah this morning:
No. |
Owner |
Area in square meters |
Number of roofs |
Number of residents |
Damage |
1. |
‘Atta ‘Oudeh Salim Barhoum |
350 |
1, asbestos -roofed |
10 |
Completely demolished and US$ 15,000 was lost |
2. |
Suhaila Ahmed Salim Barhoum |
150 |
1, asbestos -roofed |
3 |
Completely demolished |
3. |
‘Abdel-Karim Suleiman Ismail Barhoum |
200 |
1, asbestos -roofed |
12 |
Completely demolished |
4. |
Mansour Ahmed Hammad Barhoum |
140 |
1, asbestos –roofed |
9 |
Completely demolished |
5. |
Jasser Ahmed Hammad Barhoum |
100 |
1, asbestos –roofed |
5 |
Completely demolished |
6. |
‘Atta Jasser Ahmed Barhoum |
180 |
1, asbestos –roofed |
5 |
Completely demolished |
7. |
Fathi Jasser Ahmed Barhoum |
200 |
1, asbestos –roofed |
9 |
Completely demolished |
8. |
Ghazi Jasser Ahmed Barhoum |
200 |
1, asbestos –roofed |
9 |
Completely demolished |
9. |
Nafez Jasser Ahmed Barhoum |
200 |
1, asbestos –roofed |
2 |
Completely demolished |
10. |
Fadhel Suleiman Salim Barhoum |
200 |
1, asbestos –roofed |
8 |
Completely demolished |
11. |
Fadheya Suleiman Ibrahim Barhoum |
50 |
1, asbestos –roofed |
1 |
Completely demolished |
12. |
Hamdan Khalil Mohammed El-Dabbas |
350 built and 400 under construction |
1, asbestos –roofed |
9 |
Completely demolished |
13. |
Mahmoud Khalil Mohammed El-Dabbas |
500 |
1, asbestos –roofed |
11 |
Completely demolished |
14. |
‘Aamer Mahmoud Khalil El-Dabbas |
120 |
1, asbestos –roofed |
3 |
Completely demolished |
15. |
Ayman Mahmoud Khalil El-Dabbas |
120 |
1, asbestos –roofed |
2 |
Completely demolished |
16. |
Nidal Mahmoud Khalil El-Dabbas |
200 |
1, asbestos –roofed |
3 |
Completely demolished |
17. |
Bilal Mohammed Khalil El-Dabbas |
200 |
1, asbestos –roofed |
3 |
Completely demolished |
18. |
Hamed Mohammed Khalil El-Dabbas |
200 |
1, asbestos –roofed |
2 |
Completely demolished |
19. |
Mahrous Mohammed Khalil El-Dabbas |
200 |
1, asbestos –roofed |
2 |
Completely demolished |
20. |
Khalil Mohammed Khalil El-Dabbas |
400 |
1, asbestos -roofed |
3 |
Completely demolished |
The Israeli occupation forces also razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land and demolished agricultural facilities as follows:
1) a 2.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by ‘Atta ‘Oudeh Salim Barhoum;
2) a 3.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Fadhel Suleiman Salim Barhoum; and
3) a 30-square-meter room and a water pump for irrigation purposes, owned by Samir ‘Awad Salim Barhoum.
Yesterday, at approximately 23:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces started to demolish three Palestinian houses just south of “Netzarim” settlement, which is located south of Gaza City. Two of these houses were completely demolished, leaving their residents homeless, and the third one was severely damaged.
According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 23:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces called over loudspeakers for Palestinian civilians in Al-Moghraqa area to leave their homes, located south of the road between Al-Shuhada’ junction and “Netzarim” settlement. Palestinian civilians evacuated their homes in a panic. Within minutes, Israeli bulldozers demolished three houses. Residents had no chance to remove any of their furniture or personal effects from the buildings before they were destroyed. Details of these houses are as follows:
1) a 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which six people lived, owned by ‘Abdullah Ibrahim El-Hassanat – completely demolished;
2) a 140-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which seven people lived, owned by ‘Abdullah Handal Mutawe’ – completely demolished; and
3) a 160-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which five people lived, owned by Jaber Hassan El-Hassanat – a 16-square-meter room was demolished.
Since yesterday evening, the Israeli occupation forces have imposed a strict siege on a Palestinian residential area near “Dogit” settlement northwest of Beit Lahia. PCHR learned that the Israeli forces fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at the area and razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land. PCHR’s field officers have not been able to reach the area to verify the damage caused to Palestinian property. According to medical sources at Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza City, a man and his son from Jablya, who were on their farm, were injured. The Israeli occupation forces had also stopped a Palestine Red Crescent Society ambulance for two hours. The injured were:
1) Nabil Salah Sha’ban Khader (the son), 35, seriously injured by live bullets to the chest and neck; and
2) Salah Sha’ban Khader (the father), 62, injured by a live bullet in the left upper arm.
Such actions came in the aftermath of a military attack that targeted Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned in the vicinity of “Dogit” settlement. Immediately, the Israeli occupation forces imposed a total siege on a Palestinian residential area, in which 160 people live, near the aforementioned settlement. PCHR has learned that more than 40 people who were visiting relatives in the area are still detained there. A number of students of the General Certificate of Education (Tawjihi) were not able to attend their exams this morning.
The Israeli occupation forces had also detained all Palestinian young men in the area from 01:00 to 7:30 local time at Erez area, under control of these forces. They were all interrogated and released, except for Nasser Fares El-Ghoul, 31, and Shafiq Ahmed Hamdouna, 30, both of whom were arrested.
PCHR strongly condemns the escalation in crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians. PCHR reiterates its call on the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to take practical measures to ensure international protection for Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and to stop war crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces against them.