Ref: 170/2003

 This morning, in
the latest attack against Palestinian civilians and property, Israeli occupying
forces destroyed 22 houses in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in the southern Gaza
Strip. Contrary to Israeli claims that the houses were uninhabited, preliminary
investigations conducted by PCHR revealed that the Israeli military operation
left 178 Palestinian civilians (25 families) homeless.  In addition, homes
belonging to 6 families (approximately 40 civilians) have become
uninhabitable. 

 According to
PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 00:30 on Monday, 15 December 2003,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and helicopters
and covered by intense shelling, moved into Khan Yunis refugee camp. 
During the operation, Israeli forces totally demolished 18 houses and 4 others
partially, leaving 178 civilians (25 families) homeless.

 According to
eyewitnesses, the inhabitants of the houses destroyed or damaged in last
night’s attack left their houses when they heard the Israeli military vehicles
approaching the area. During the operation, a number of houses were partially
damaged by the shelling and Israeli forces destroyed a Palestinian National
Security Force post and severely damaged the civilian infrastructure in the
camp. PCHR’s field worker in Khan Yunis reported that 9 of the houses had
previously been vacated by the inhabitants following repeated damage and
shelling by Israeli forces. However, the houses were routinely checked by their
owners.

 PCHR strongly
condemns the ongoing military attacks against Palestinian civilians and
property perpetrated by Israeli occupying forces in the OPTs.  The
extensive destruction to civilian property carried out wantonly and unlawfully
without military necessity, constitutes grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva
Convention. PCHR reiterates that the policies of retaliation and collective
punishment practiced by Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians
also constitute violations of international humanitarian law, specifically
article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

PCHR calls:

1. Upon the
international community to immediately intervene to halt all violations of
international human rights and humanitarian law perpetrated by Israeli occupying
forces against Palestinian civilians in the OPTs. 

2. Upon the High
Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to take concrete
measures to halt Israeli war crimes in the OPTs.

3. Upon humanitarian
organizations to provide urgent assistance to the victims of Israeli military
actions carried out against Palestinian civilians and property.