The Israeli Occupation Forces have continued their aggression against Palestinian civilians and their property in the OPTs.
On Tuesday 17 September 2002 these forces invaded two areas in the town of Khan Yunis.
They also entered the Bedouin Village, north of Beit Lahia, in the north of the Gaza Strip, and broke into Hamza Ibn Abdul Myttalib School.
At approximately 1 A.
M.
Tuesday 17 September 2002 a force of 40 Israeli tanks entered the Al Qarara village and As-Satar Al-Gharbi areas, northern Khan Yunis.
Two hours later they started to destroy homes and other civil property using explosives.
 Al Mezan’s fieldworkers have recorded the following: Destruction of an agricultural equipment workshop owned by Rami Hilmi al-Farra.
A four-story home was also damaged by the explosion.
Partial bulldozing of a granite workshop owned by Abdullah Ashur.
Destruction of a home and a workshop owned by Muhammad Sulaiman al-Astal.
Damage to a workshop owned by Khalid Bakr by using grenades.
Blowing up a two-story-house owned by Yusif Antar al-Agha and two motor vehicles near the house.
Blowing up a home owned by Muhammad Nafith al-Faluji.
Numerous other houses were damaged due to the use of explosives.
Al Mezan knows that the homes of Yasin Antar al-Agha, his brother Naji Antar al-Agha and Muhammad Kamil al-Farra were damaged.
In addition, the Israeli forces arrested 15 persons, 12 of whom were released a few hours later.
Muhammad Sulaimn al-Astal, Muhammad Yusif Antar al-Agha and Marwan Jamil al-Agha were kept in detention.
In the Northern Gaza District eyewitnesses told Al Mezan fieldworkers that the Israeli forces broke into Hamza Ibn Abdul Myttalib School in the Bedouin Village, north of Beit Lahia and detained six of the school’s administrative staff for two hours.
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights is gravely concerned by the frequent Israeli incursions in Palestinian towns and villages and the use of excessive and lethal force against civilian persons and property.
Such procedures constitute grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the human rights norms.
As such, Al Mezan condemns the Israeli acts and considers that the silence of the international community encourages them.
Al Mezan challenges this silence in the face of such war crimes and violations of international law, which places the international community’s integrity and legitimacy in question.
The Center calls upon the international community to immediately intervene and protect the civilian population of the OPTs and put an end to the Israeli occupation of the OPTs.
END