The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) escalated their aggression against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) over the last two days.
On Wednesday 21 January, 2004, (IOF) launched a new incursion into Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, only 11 hours after withdrawing from another incursion in the town.
24 homes were completely destroyed and 25 partially destroyed.
66 families, comprising 442 individuals became homeless, as a result.
According to Al Mezan’s fieldworker in Rafah, the houses were destroyed without leaving the opportunity to residents to recover their belongings.
Moreover, Israeli tanks opened fire on the area, injuring 15-year-old Bilal Shihadeh, in the head.
In addition, the IOF increased restrictions on movement of Palestinians.
Rafah Terminal which is the only passage for to the outside world was closed, as well as Al Matahin checkpoint, in the middle of the Gaza Strip.
Eyewitnesses reported the checkpoint was closed at noon of Tuesday January 20, 2003, after the IOF stopped and searched tens of cars.
One person, Muhammad Huthut, a teacher from Khan Younis working in Gaza, was injured by Israeli fire at the checkpoint.
In Deir Al Balah, in the center of the Gaza Strip, IOF notified ten families of land seizure orders on Monday January 19, 2004.
According to the warrants issued to the families, IOF will confiscate 32.
5 dunams of land, all of which is private property.
Moreover, the IOF transferred 29-year-old Anwar Abu Zahu by force from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip, after 21 months of illegal administrative detention in Israel.
He was not notified of the transfer decision.
The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights condemns the unrelenting and humiliating violations of human rights of the Palestinian people.
The aforementioned acts constitute measure of collective punishment and are grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Times of War, of 12 August 1949, and the International Law.
Al Mezan appeals for the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to intervene and put an end to Israel’s systematic breaches of the Convention and protect the civilian population and their property in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.