Press Release

The Israeli Occupation Forces sweep more agricultural land in the Gaza Strip

A number of Palestinian civilians are injured at noon

Ref: 123/2000

Date: October 8, 2000

The Israeli Occupation Forces continue their aggressions against Palestinian civilians and their properties in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Since the morning, bulldozers of the Israeli Occupation Forces, in cooperation with Israeli settlers have been sweeping agricultural land (private property) near Dogit Settlement established on the land of Beit Lahia Town in the northern area of the Gaza Strip. PCHR’s field officer in the mentioned area has informed that sweeping is still being carried out. The Israeli Occupation Forces swept an area of about 700m long along the coastal road leading to Dogit Settlement from east to west, and 7m wide on each side of the road.

In the northern area of the Gaza Strip too, the Israeli Occupation Forces shot at Palestinian demonstrators in the afternoon and injured 9 of them. They shot also at demonstrators in the area of Al-Shuhada’ Junction (Netzarim Junction) and injured 6 people. In the area of Tal Al-Sultan roadblock in Rafah, the Israeli Occupation Forces shot at some Palestinian boys demonstrated near the roadblock and injured an 11-year-old child in his leg. In the area of Al-Tuffah roadblock in Khan Younis, the Israeli Occupation Forces used tear gas against Palestinian civilians; tens of them were hurt and evacuated to Nasser Hospital in the city.

It is worth mentioning that the Israeli Occupation Forces closed Gaza International Airport and Rafah border crossing at the Egyptian borders. Thus, the Gaza Strip became isolated from the outside world as crossings into Israel were also closed a little days ago.