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| PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights PRESS RELEASE |
Ref: 106/2005
Date: 12 September 2005
Time: 15:30 GMT
On the First Day Following the Evacuation of al-Mawasi area, 6 Palestinians Drown at Khan Yunis Beach
Six Palestinians drowned at Khan Yunis on the first day following the departure of Israeli Occupation Force (IOF) from settlements in the Gaza Strip. PCHR calls upon the Palestinian National Authority(PNA) to provide rescue teams at the beaches of Khan Yunis and Rafah.
PCHR regrets the deaths of 6 Palestinian as a result of drowning at Khan Yunis beach, a few hours following the redeployment of IOF from settlements in the Gaza Strip to the border areas. PCHR calls upon the PNA to make more efforts to ensure the safety of Palestinian civilians who have deployed in the former settlement areas which were given up by IOF at approximately 03:00. PCHR also urges the PNA and municipal councils to provide rescue teams and lifeguards at the beaches of Rafah and Khan Yunis to look after Palestinian civilians who have been denied access to these beaches for 5 years due to the closure imposed by IOF. PCHR further calls upon such rescue teams to determine the areas which are appropriate and safe for swimming, through placing clear signs to ensure the safety of civilians. PCHR calls upon the Palestinian police to organize traffic in the area to facilitate access of medical crews to al-Mawasi area in Rafah and Khan Yunis.
According to information available to PCHR, thousands of Palestinian civilians rushed into al-Mawasi area in Khan Yunis and Rafah after 03:00 on Monday, 12 September 2005, as IOF evacuated all military posts throughout the Gaza Strip. Hundreds of these civilians went to the beaches to swim for the first time since the beginning of the Intifada, while an atmosphere of joy at the dismantling of the settlements spread over the Gaza Strip. As these beaches lack lifeguards, a number of civilians drowned. They asked for help, and a number of other young men hurried to rescue them. Even though they were able to get those who drowned out of the sea, 6 civilians, including a child died. Four of the victims were identified as:
1. ‘Alaa’ Yousef Ahmed Swaidan, 19;
2. ‘Essam Kamal al-Qadi, 22;
3. Khalaf Joma’a Hamdan al-Barahma, 21;
4. Hajjaj Hamada al-‘Aqqad, 15;
The other two victims have not been identified. In addition, 4 civilians who drowned were evacuated to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis to receive medical treatment. Ambulances faced extreme difficulties when trying to reach al-Mawasi due to the traffic jam.
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