October 26, 2003
Israeli occupying forces destroy 3 apartment buildings in al-Zahra town in Gaza following the rejection of PCHR’s High Court Petition
Israeli occupying forces destroy 3 apartment buildings in al-Zahra town in Gaza following the rejection of PCHR’s High Court Petition

Ref: 149/2003

 

 This
morning, the Israeli High Court rejected an appeal submitted by PCHR to stop
the demolition of 3 apartment buildings in al-Zahra town located opposite to
the “Netzarim” settlement, south of Gaza City. 

 In
an attempt to prevent the demolition of the three buildings, at approximately
23:50 on Saturday, 25 October 2003, PCHR submitted a petition to the Israeli
High Court.  As they have numerous times in the past, the Israeli
prosecution claimed that the three buildings were to be demolished on grounds
of security necessities. At approximately 02:00 on Sunday, 26 October 2003, the
Israeli High Court rejected PCHR’s petition, permitting the demolition of the
three buildings and at approximately 02:20, Israeli occupying forces demolished
the three buildings. PCHR is concerned that the rejection of the petition
against illegal Israeli military actions is simply the latest in an ongoing
policy of blanket acceptance of “security” as a justification for
unlawful measures taken by the Israeli military.  This pattern serves to
raise concerns regarding the independence of the Israeli High Court.

 Earlier
in the evening on Saturday 25 October 2003, Israeli occupying forces fired
approximately 15 tank shells at the three buildings.  Israeli military
vehicles then moved from “Netzarim” settlement, south of Gaza City, into
al-Zahra town, taking control of the area. Israeli soldiers planted explosives
inside a Palestinian police station and destroyed it.  Soon after, Israeli
soldiers ordered residents of the area to vacate their houses and go to the
nearby Nusseirat refugee camp. Once the evacuation of the area was complete,
Israeli soldiers planted explosives inside the three buildings and destroyed
them. 

 According
to information available to PCHR, the three buildings were owned by al-Zhafer
Contracting Company.  They were in the final stages of construction. 
Each building was composed of 12 floors, each of which had 4 apartments; the
total number of apartments that were destroyed is 144.  A number of
neighboring houses and buildings were also damaged in the explosion. 

 PCHR
is gravely concerned about the ongoing violations of human rights perpetrated
by Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians and property. PCHR
reiterates its calls to the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva
Convention to intervene to ensure protection for Palestinian civilians and
civilian property.