PRESS RELEASE

 

PCHR Condemns Acceleration of

Illegal Settlement Activities in the Gaza Strip

 

Ref.,: 85/99

Date: 1^st September, 1999

Israeli bulldozers continue their illegal activities in paving a settlement road adjacent to the settlements of Gadid, Gan Or and Pedolah. On 28 August 1999, Israeli soldiers and settlers enclosed with a barbed wire fence hundreds of dunams of Palestinian land between these settlements and the new road. It appears to be an attempt to expand these settlements from the Western side.

In another measure, on 26 August 1999, Israeli authorities notified the municipality of Khan Younis to remove its cabins from Khan Younis beach. According to the notification letter the municipality of Khan Younis had “illegally laid hands on the piece of land”. The Israeli authorities said they would remove the cabins today, 1 September 1999, if the municipality did not remove them first. The cabins are owned by the municipality and were established prior to 1967. For many years however, Israeli Authorities have prevented the municipality from repairing them. Recently the Israelis demolished one of the cabins, which was being used by the municipality as a lifeguard base.

On 27 August 1999, Israelis leveled a five dunam piece of land and established a by-pass road as a preparatory measure to annex this land to an Israeli military post in Tel Jinan, between the yellow areas of Khan Younis and Rafah (according to the interim agreements, yellow areas are under Israeli security jurisdiction and Palestinian civil jurisdiction, similar to B Areas in the West Bank.)

On 30 August 1999, Israeli soldiers leveled a piece of land, estimated at 500 square metres, which is the private property of El Farra family. The land is close to the Israeli military post on the main road connecting the north and south of the Gaza Strip.

According to PCHR field workers, Israeli authorities also leveled land near the Israeli military post at the entry of the road leading to the Gush Qatif settlement from the north. The fortifications of the post were strengthened by surrounding it with blocks of concrete. The military post in the west of Khan Younis was also fortified with new barbed wire. And a new military post was established adjacent to Neve Dekalim settlement. Thus the number of military posts in the Gaza Strip was increased to 48.

PCHR condemns the acceleration of Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories in general and in the Gaza Strip in particular. In fact, such illegal activities unveil the real face of the new government in Israel, which continues the policy and practice of previous governments. PCHR also calls upon the international community, and the High Contracting Parties to the IVth Geneva Convention in particular, to take measures in accordance with their obligations under the Convention in order to protect Palestinian civilians and their property in accordance with Article 1 of the Convention.