At around 12:30 A.
M.
Tuesday 6 August 2002, approximately 20 Israeli tanks entered the town of Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip.
Al Mezan fieldworkers reported that Israeli forces entered the town at two points, the Erez Crossing and the Nitzanit settlement, and advanced to an area near the town center through Al-Manshiyeh Street.
Israeli soldiers broke into the house of Adil Ahmad Yunis after a tank destroyed its fence and front gate.
They detained 20 members of the Yunis family in one room before commandeering the roof of the house as a watchtower.
Soldiers then searched numerous homes in the area including the homes of Muhammad al-Masri, the Mayor of Beit Lahia, Atta al-Masri, Yunis Abu Jarad, Muhammad Abu Jarad and Adil al-Masri.
Homeowners reported that the soldiers were aggressive, destroying much of the furniture during the search.
Atta al-Masri, who left minutes before the soldiers broke into his home, told the Center that he estimated his losses at 3,000 US dollars.
Soldiers arrested Yunis Abu Jarad, aged 75, his 25-year-old son Ismail, and Abid Abu Jarad, aged 23.
They murdered Mahmud Shihdeh al-Jaghbir, aged 29.
Hasan Ali al-Assi, aged 23, was wounded by a bullet to the head before soldiers withdrew from the town at 3:30 A.
M.
Wednesday 7 August.
Israeli forces resumed the siege on the town of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
Eyewitnesses told Al Mezan that Israeli bulldozers demolished cultivated land near the Sofa Crossing northeast of the town including ten dunams[1] of land containing almond and olive trees owned by the Al Agha and Ashur families.
The land is located near the Morag settlement.
Israeli bulldozers demolished tens of dunams in the Rabay’a area of town as well.
Al Mezan fieldworkers could not reach the area as Israeli forces were still present.
Al Mezan is gravely concerned with restrictions on freedom of movement and the continued Israeli siege of the OPTs.
It is specifically concerned with the isolation of Palestinian towns and the demolition of cultivated land.
Al Mezan calls upon the international community to protect Palestinian civilians in the OPTs and end the unceasing Israeli war crimes.
It insists that the international community, especially the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, is obliged to fulfill its legal and moral responsibilities and bring Israel to justice.
[1] One dunam corresponds to 1,000 square meters in the international system.
END