The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have continued to impose a tight siege on the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun for the 5th consecutive day.
So far, six Palestinians have been killed and over 70 persons have been injured, including 40 children.
700 dunams of farmland have been razed.
At approximately 5:00am, on Tuesday June 29, 2004, about 35 Israeli tanks, armored vehicles and bulldozers entered the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, closing all entrances to the town.
As the IOF took control of all areas adjacent to the eastern border line, their bulldozers leveled over 700 dunams of agricultural land in the vicinity of the eastern towns of Beit Hanoun and Jabalia.
6 Palestinian casualties were reported, including two children who were demonstrating against the IOF's incursion.
They are: Rasim Khalil Udwan, aged 26, from Beit Hanoun; Muhammad Ahmad Difallah, Aged 21, from Beit Hanoun Ismail Nabhan, aged 26, from Jabalia Atiya Muhammad al-Ajrami, aged19, from Jabalia Ihab Abdul-karim Shatat, aged 9, from Gaza Hamza Nahed Haboush, aged 15, from Gaza According to the Center's field investigations, Difallah was on the roof of his house when he was shot by Israeli soldiers occupying the roof of neighboring house owned by Al Kafarneh family.
Shatat was killed while playing in front of their house.
Udwan died in an unexplained explosion.
Furthermore, at 3:45 and 4:30 pm on Thursday 1 July, IOF helicopters fired missiles at crowds of children gathered near the Hammouda junction in two separate occasions.
Eight children were injured, two of whom remained in critical condition.
Helicopter gun-ships also fired at houses in Tel as-Za'tar neighborhood.
At approximately 1:00 am on the same day, 10 Israeli armored vehicles and bulldozers entered the east cemetery of Jabalia.
Reports of land leveling were still coming in at the time of the present release.
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights gravely condemns the continued IOF aggression against Palestinian civilians in the OPT, and warns about the implications of the international community's silence regarding the grave IOF breaches of international humanitarian law and the politicization of the Palestinian cause, which places the state of Israel above the law.
Al Mezan is also concerned about the Government of Israel’s statements that IOF will remain in the town of Beit Hanoun until the alleged withdrawal from the Gaza Strip at the end of 2005.
The Center highlights that the tight siege imposed on Beit Hanoun has drastic negative repercussions on the general human rights situation in the town.
Furthermore, the important loss of farmland in the town will worsen the living conditions of civilians and increase the rate of poverty and unemployment in the town.
Al Mezan calls upon the International community to fulfill its legal and moral obligations under the humanitarian law by providing effective protection for the Palestinian population of the OPT.
The perpetrators of such grave breaches should be brought to justice.
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