Update on IOF Incursion in North Gaza
By Al Mezan
October 08, 2004
Al Mezan Statement:
Volume 7
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF)
carried out a wide-scaled incursion into the area of North Gaza[1][1] at
approximately 10pm on Tuesday 28 September 2004. IOF spokespersons announced
that the Israeli Army carried out the incursion to stop the launch of Qassam and
other hand-made rockets on the Israeli village of Sderot and Jewish settlements
in the Gaza Strip. The incursion is still underway for the eighth day. Ninty-two
Palestinians[2][2]; among whom are 26 children, have been killed and 313;
including 110 children, were injured by the time of issuing this update.
Numerous homes and private property have also been destroyed as IOF utilize air
force and heavy tanks in this military operation. In addition, as the incursion
continues, the civilian population of the area suffer shortage in food and water
supply. In the areas which IOF occupy civilians lack the most basic needs. Al
Mezan is still receiving plights from people who have been in urgent need for
medicine and water.
Events of day eight: Tuesday 5 October 2004:
- IOF escalated their
aggression against the population of the Gaza Strip on the eighth day of the
military operation in the Gaza Strip. Three civilians were killed in their
homes in three separate attacks by tanks in Al Maslakh neighborhood in North
Gaza while they were in their houses. 11 others were injured in these
attacks. One child was also critically injured in the head from IOF's
shelling towards homes in the same area.
- IOF continued their siege
on North Gaza. The humanitarian situation of the civilians in the area
worsens every day. There are substantial reports on a serious lack of water,
children milk, medicine, fuel and food. In several occasions, IOF tank lines
stormed into residential areas and carried out attacks with artillery and
heavy machineguns.
- Medical sources and
eyewitnesses reported that IOF targeted medical teams and obstructed their
access to the besieged areas in North Gaza. At approximately 2:10am today,
Wednesday 6 October 2004, a helicopter gunship fired at an ambulances in
Block (4) in Jabalia camp. Medical teams moved to this Block after a sound
of explosion was heard in it. Additionally, ambulances face difficulty using
dirt roads as IOF destroyed numerous streets in the besieged area.
- Educational facilities
remained paralyzed in North Gaza as some 50 schools closed their doors due
to the IOF operation in the area, which prevent students and teachers from
reaching schools.
- At 10:35pm yesterday,
Tuesday 5 October 2004, an Israeli unmanned airplane fired a missile towards
the Al Ajramy street in Jabalia camp. Two brothers were killed, as a result:
30-year-old Hasan Abdul Hai Darweesh and 24-year-old Mousa Abdul Hai
Darweesh, both are from the neighboring Mashrou' neighborhood. Six others
were injured, two of whom critically.
- One hour later, an IOF
tank fired two shells towards the As Sikka Street, east of Jabalia. No
casualties were reported.
- IOF tanks and bulldozers
leveled ten dunams of farmland in Zimmu Street in Beit Hanoun town. The land
is owned by Udwan family.
- At approximately 11:45pm
yesterday, IOF fired a tanks shell towards the apartment of Ghazi Fifil, who
lives with his extended family in the five-story house in the Al Maslakh
neighborhood in Beit Lahia. Filfil, his wife, Sumaiya, and their seven
children were injured. The apartment was severely damaged as well. Following
is the text of Filfil's affidavit to Al Mezan: "I reside in Al Maslakh
neighborhood of Beit Lahia town. I have 19 sons and daughters from two
marriages, 11 of whom are under 18-year-old. At approximately 11:20pm
Tuesday 5 October 2004, I was with my family in our apartment, which is in
the fifth floor of my extended family's building. We heard many explosions
in the area and knew about IOF's presence in our neighborhood. I separated
my children on different rooms in the apartment fearing from shelling on the
house. My wife and I kept checking on them all the time as they were too
scared to get to sleep. At about 11:45pm, a huge explosion occurred at the
western part of our apartment. I fell on the ground unable to move, but I
was conscious and saw my brothers, who live in the same building, carrying
my children one after another. I looked at them and saw them bleeding. In
the end, my brothers came and took me down stairs where they took me to
hospital in a private car. At the hospital I knew that my wife and seven
sons were wounded"[3][3].
- In a similar attack, at
approximately 1:15am on Wednesday 6 October 2004, an Israeli tank fired an
artillery towards the house of Husien Qahman in the same Al Maslakh
neighborhood. Qahman's 15-year-old son, Abdullah, was killed, as a result.
In this incident, IOF opened intensive fire towards the rescue teams who
arrived the house to help the family and delayed the rescue. Ambulances were
not able to reach the house as the roads leading to it were destroyed by IOF.
The following is the text of an affidavit given to Al Mezan by Imad Muhammad
Ali, a medic who was with the rescue team: "We were in the ambulance near Al
Maslakh neighborhood which was under IOF attack when we heard the sound of
explosion at approximately 1:15am today. We hurried to the attack scene,
which was a two-story-house in the neighborhood. I saw five ambulances that
had arrived before us, so my colleague and I stayed near our ambulance,
which was about 50 meters from the house. Suddenly, there was intensive
firing towards the medics who entered the house and at the ambulances. We
realized that we were under attack and fell on the ground seeking refuge. I
saw the sand around us in the air from the bullets. After 15 minutes, I saw
medics carrying a body of a teenager on a stretcher, whom I knew was dead".
- At approximately 1:40am
today, IOF opened fire towards homes in the same Al Maslakh neighborhood.
Eight-year-old Ahmad Imad Abu Samak was critically injured from a live
bullet in the head when he was inside his house in the neighborhood.
- Forty minutes later, IOF
tanks fired artillery towards another nearby house and killed its owner,
Hamdan Faraj Ubaid, aged 50, and his 22-year-old son Hammudeh. Medical
sources said their bodies were severely disfigured. Ubaid's wife and his
other son were injured in the attack.
- At the same time, IOF
broke into the Haboub family 4-story house in the same neighborhood and took
control of its roof for observation. Eyewitnesses informed the Center that
Israeli soldiers used the house to fire at ambulances and people who tried
to help the wounded in the neighborhood.
- At approximately 8am
today, IOF leveled an area of 20 dunams of farmland in the town of Beit
Hanoun. The land is owned by Ayoub Al Kafarneh. They also destroy a house
owned by Jamal Al Shubaki.
- At approximately 1pm
today, 60-year-old Amneh An Najjar, who is from Jabalia, was critically
injured from a heavy live bullet fired by IOF towards an Nuzha neighborhood
in Jabalia town. She suffers critical wounds in her head.
- At approximately 2:35pm
today, IOF demolished two homes in Al Kashif Hill in Jabalia. The homes are
owned by Nasser Abu Freeh and his brother Hamid.
- At around the same time,
IOF forced a Palestinian family to evacuate their home, which is located in
Qleebo neighborhood north east to Jabalia. The Dahnoun family is composed of
32 individuals, 15 of whom are children. IOF took control of the house on 30
September 2004. since this day, the family had been detained into one room
and have been using the house as an observation point.
- At approximately 2:45
today, IOF fired at the Al Mahkama street in Jabalia. 10-year-old boy,
Muhammad Mansour Abed Rabu was wounded in his left leg, as a result.
- IOF carried out several
attacks by helicopters and tanks in North Gaza. Substantial reports have not
been available by the time of issuing this update, and will be covered by
the next volume.
- In Khan Younis, south of
the Gaza Strip, IOF pulled out of the western part of the town today at
dawn. Al Mezan's fieldworker in the town reported that they destroyed seven
homes, in which 84 individuals used to live, and damaged two other homes.
They also leveled an area of 55 dunams of farmland in the area and
demolished several greenhouses and one water well. Four people were injured
in this incursion.
- Media reports said that
three Palestinians were killed inside the settlement of Kfar Darom, south of
the town of Deir Al Balah today. The Israeli Army said that it killed them
in exchange of fire inside the settlement after they infiltrated it. The
three persons are: 25-year-old Ramy Abu Mihsin, 19-year-old Ali Khalid Al
Jaru, and 23-year-old Iyad Abu Al Atta; all are from the middle area of the
Gaza strip.
Relevant statements made
by international entities:
On 5 Oct 200, twelve UN
agencies working in the Gaza Strip issued a statement saying that "the current
violence is pushing Gaza into a humanitarian crisis". They voiced their serious
concern about the ability of the population to cope as "the ongoing violence on
top of the sharply deteriorating humanitarian situation this year is pushing the
Palestinian population into a deep crisis". It also mentioned that 45
Palestinians on average have been killed monthly by IOF during 2004 and that a
rise in the poverty rate to 72% in Gaza is expected. The statement comes eight
days after the IOF initiated a major military operation in north Gaza, in which
over 80 Palestinians and 5 Israelis have been killed. The agencies recognized
Israel's security concerns but emphasized that "its actions should be in
conformity with international humanitarian law and it should not use
disproportionate force". Finally, the statement warned about the consequences of
movement restrictions on the UN personnel and goods during the last 14 days.
The United Nations Security
Council failed to adopt draft resolution demanding halt to Israeli military
action in Gaza. The resolution was vetoed by the United States, with 11 members
in favor and three abstained. The draft resolution would have called on Israel
to "ensure the unfettered access and safety of United Nations personnel and all
medical and humanitarian aid workers to provide emergency assistance to
civilians, and on both parties to immediately implement their obligations under
the Road Map". The United States Ambassador to the UN described the draft as
"lopsided and unbalanced" as it did not mention the casualties at the Israeli
side.
Amnesty International issued a
press release today and voiced its concern about the deterioration of human
rights and humanitarian situation as a result of the Israeli incursion in
Jabalia refugee camp and other areas in north Gaza. The release mentioned the
Israeli Army's use of excessive force in populated areas, which resulted in the
killing of over 70 Palestinians over the past week., and damaged homes, schools
and infrastructure, and hindered the access of medical services. It called on
Israel to end its use of excessive lethal force, unlawful destruction of homes
and properties, allow access to medical services, and respect the right to
freedom of movement for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. It also called the
Palestinian armed groups not to initiate attacks from amongst residential areas,
which endangers the life of local residents, and to end the attacks against
Israeli civilians.
U. S. Department of State
Secretary said Tuesday 5 October 2004, that Israel should end the military
operation in Gaza as soon as possible. Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs
called Wednesday 6 October 2004, Israel to end its military operation in the
Gaza Strip. He said that the toll of Palestinians was not acceptable in the 21st
century. He also said the situation in Gaza was tragic and asserted that
achieving political settlements can only be done through negotiation. He also
said that the UN Security Council's session on the situation in the Strip should
call Israel to end its operations in Gaza adding that calming the situation in
the area was not sufficient and that a process is needed to produce positive and
immediate results.
Relevant statements made by Palestinian and Israeli entities:
The Palestinian National
Authority (PNA) condemned the U.S. veto in the UN Security Council, which failed
the draft resolution calling Israel to end the ongoing military action in the
Gaza Strip. In a statement, the PNA official Saeb Erikat warned about Israeli
escalation after this veto. He said that The U.S. continues its complete support
to Israel and shows no regard to the Arab nations. He said that the PNA would
address the UN General Assembly and the Government of Switzerland, the host
State of the Geneva Conventions to seek urgent intervention. Palestinian
permanent observer to the UN said the UN Security Council had another sad day
with the Bush Administration seventh veto on Israel-Palestine. He said that the
Council had failed to carry out its mandate under the UN Chart.
Israeli Prime Minister said today that the military operation would continue
until Qassam rockets towards Israel stop. Al Mezan Statement:
Al Mezan Center for Human Right
gravely condemns Israel's continued collective punishment of Palestinian
civilians in the OPT, and especially in the North Gaza area. The center
emphasizes that IOF committed violations, and continue, serious violations of
human rights is this area, especially the arbitrary shelling and bombardment of
residential areas, the use of excessive and disproportionate force, the
obstruction of ambulance and humanitarian teams movement and, he destruction of
homes and private properties. Such acts breach the International Humanitarian
Law and human rights standards and necessitate urgent action by the
international community.
The Center believes that the
failure of the international community to effectively intervene has only urged
Israel to continue its breach of international law. Al Mezan calls for urgent
international community to protect Palestinian civilians in the OPT and to put
an end to its collective punishment of Palestinian civilians, especially as the
humanitarian situation of tens of thousands of civilians is deteriorating
rapidly.
Al Mezan calls upon the United
Nations Security Council to condemn the Israeli breaches of the international
law and to initiate investigations in the IOF's violations of human rights in
the Gaza Strip.
List of Palestinians who were killed by IOF since the beginning of the incursion
No. Name Age Address
- Tawfeeq Muhammad
Ash Shrafi 24 Jabalia camp
- Ahmad Ibrahim
Madi 17 Jabalia camp
- Said Muhammad Abi
Al Aish 14 Jabalia camp
- Mus'ab Mahmud Al
Barad'i 21 Gaza City
- Fathi Ahmad Abu
Sawaween 23 Gaza City
- Khalil Khalil
Naji 27 Gaza City
- Usama Muhammad Al
Bursh 21 Jabalia town
- Abdul hai An
Najjar 24 Jabalia camp
- Ra'fat Rafeeq
Jaballah 25 Jabalia, Tel Az Zaatar
- Sufyan Abu Al
Jidyan 33 Jabalia, Tel Az Zaatar
- Hamza Asaad Ahmad
27 Beit Lahia
- Muhammad Yousif
Al Habel 65 Beit Lahia
- Muhammad Al
Ja'beer 18 Jabalia camp
- Hazim Hussein
Farajallah 24 Jabalia camp
- Atif Jamal Al
Ashqar 27 Beit Lahia
- Muhammad Jamil Al
Ustath 25 Jabalia, Al Karama
- Muhammad Abdul
Salam Shalha 16 Jabalia camp
- Muhammad raafat
Al Rifi 19 Gaza City
- Yihia Akram
Hammad 17 Beit Lahia
- Tamir Abdul Aziz
Abu Shakyan 14 Jabalia camp
- Mus'ab Mahmud
Jum'a 22
- Hussam Ghunaim 19
- Abdullah Abu Udeh
16 Gaza City
- Arafat Bilal
Yasin 24 Gaza City
- Muhammad Abu
Hasira 25 Gaza City
- Diyaa ad-Din Al
Kahlout 17 Gaza City
- Mahmud Abu Al
Jidyan 23 Jabalia, Tel Az Zaatar
- Mutaz Abdul Malik
At Taluli 14 Jabalia camp
- Muhammad Khalid
Raihan 14 Jabalia camp
- Ziyad Ala' Shams
14 Gaza City
- Mahmud Al Madhoun
17 Jabalia camp
- Sultan Said Al
Bishawi 14 Gaza City
- Nidal Said Al
Bishawi 16 Gaza City
- Mahmud Muhammad
Al Hashash 62 Rafah
- Mahmud Abu Tyour
10 Khan Younis
- Mahmoud Umran 77
Khan Younis
- Tariq
Abdullah Zaqout 17 Jabalia camp
- Ahmad Adnan al
Bura'i 16 Gaza City
- Iyad Zaqout 31
Beit Lahia
- Jihad Mahmud Abu
Al Jbeen 26 Jabalia camp
- Mostafa Hammash
21 Jabalia camp
- Nidal Muhammad
Matar 29 Jabalia camp
- Wasim Mustafa
Natil 18 Jabalia camp
- Ibrahim Ali
Asaliya 26 Jabalia, Tel Az Zaatar
- Hani Said
Mushtaha 17 Gaza City
- Jadallah Ahmed
Abu Skheela 27 Jabalia camp
- Miqbel Khzeiq 26
Gaza City
- Ibrahim Mamud Abu
Al Qumsan 21 Jabalia camp
- Muhammad Rafiq
Salem 20 Beit Lahia
- Fathi Abdul
Rahman Afana 45 Jabalia, Tel Az Zaatar
- Eid Muhammad
Afana 36 Jabalia, Tel Az Zaatar
- Ibrahim Hasan
Hamdan 43 Jabalia, Tel Az Zaatar
- Wahid Talal Abdul
Rahman 25 Jabalia Refugee Camp
- Yaser Muhammad
Abu Ghbaiyd 20 Jabalia Refugee Camp
- Imad Muhammad Al
Mansi 27 Gaza City
- Muhammad Mousa Al
Shami 22 Jabalia camp
- Abdul Mun'em
Ihsan Abu Baker 20 Gaza City
- Yaser Mustafah
Dahalan 21 Jabalia camp
- Mahdai Jamal
Mushtaha 30 Gaza City
- Khaled Al Amriti
28 Gaza City
- Musbah Hussein Al
Rantisi 20 Jabalia camp
- Rami Akram Quddas
22 Jabalia camp
- Muhammad Ibrahim
Al Shrafi 22 Jabalia camp
- Ra'id Abu Wadi 36
Jabalia camp
- Fadi Farid Az
Za'anin 23 Beit Hanun
- Maher Jamil
Zaqout 29 Jabalia camp
- Nidal Mohsen Al
Madhoun 13 Jabalia camp
- Muhammad Diyab An
Najjar 13 Jabalia camp
- Saber Ibrahim
Asaliya 13 Jabalia camp
- Faris Omar Al
Habel 21 Beit Lahia
- Romel Muhammad Al
Barawi 20 Beit Lahia
- Ismail Ibrahim
Qahman 21 Beit Lahia
- Muhammad Saber Al
Baba 23 Beit Lahia
- Muhammad Mousa Al
Hissi 27 Jabalia camp
- Ramzi Shehda
Hasaballa 20 Jabalia camp
- Asma' Nader
Dwidar 17 Jabalia camp
- Lu'ay Ayman An
Najjar 4 Khan Younis
- Waif Salim
Asalyeh 30 Jabalia
- Abdullah Naji
darduna 25 Jabalia (police officer)
- Said Jamal Al
Majdalawi 30 An Nuseirat
- Iman Darweesh Al
Hams 13 Rafah
- Hussam Muhammad
Al Rass 24 Gaza City
- Basher Khalil Ad
Dabash 42 Gaza City
- Tharif Yousif Al
Ar'eer 30 Gaza City
- Hasan Abdul Hai
Darweesh 30 Beit Lahia
- Mousa Abdul Hai
Darweesh 24 Beit Lahia
- Abdullah Hussien
Qahman 15 Beit Lahia
- Hamdan Faraj
Ubaid 50 Beit Lahia
- Hammudeh Hamdan
Ubaid 22 Beit Lahia
- Ramy Abdul Rahman
Abu Mhisin 25 Bureij camp
- Ali Khalid Al
Jaru 19 Deir Al Balah
- Iyad Abu Al Atta
23 Deir Al Balah
Due to the Israeli incursionin
North Gaza and to the presence of IOF tanks 150 meters from its office, which
incurs serous dangers on the center’s office and the safety of its staff,
AlMezanCenter for Human Rights was forced to close its main office in Jabalia
camp. The Center receives the cases who need intervention in person or by
telephone in its Gaza office in Izzadin Al QassamSt.,tel/fax: +970 (0)8
2820447/2
http://www.miftah.org
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