The Israeli forces have tightened the siege imposed on al-Mawasi area, located on the coastline of Rafah and Khan Yunis south of the Gaza Strip.
Eyewitnesses told Al Mezan that these forces carried out house-to-house search in the area and arrested eight persons Sunday 12 May 2002 and notified two families that their houses will be demolished.
Eyewitnesses told Al Mezan fieldworker that about 200 Israeli soldiers surrounded the neighborhood where Asaad Zurub, the main suspect of the killing an Israeli settler, lives and arrested eight persons all from Zurub family.
Assad was among the arrested.
At approximately 5pm the same day, a group of settlers attacked the area and occupied twelve houses until they were removed by the Israeli army, who are still occupying them.
In a dangerous development, Israeli officers mentioned the occupation forces intention to deport tens of persons out of al-Mawasi.
Yusif Zurub said that an Israeli officer, called Rami, informed him of this intention.
In addition, Israeli soldiers erased the special numbers, which mark ID cards of residents of al-Mawasi.
Without these numbers, the ten persons whose numbers were erased are not allowed to return to the area in case they leave the area.
During the search of Zurub family houses, Israeli soldiers told the bachelor men that they will be deported out of al-Mawasi later.
It is worth noting that al-Mawasi is under complete Israeli control and has been closed for a long time.
Even the residents of the area are frequently prevented from movement out and in.
On 29 March 2002, the area was completely closed and was reopened for the passage of persons over 40 years old on 30 April 2002.
Al Mezan lawyers are following the cases of the eight arrested persons; two of them are in Ashqilon Prison, and has contacted the Israeli Army Legal Advisor asking to stop the deportation of ten persons whose ID cards’ numbers were erased.
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights believes that the collective punishment procedures being carried out against the civilian residents of al-Mawasi aim to force them to leave the area, especially as it is surrounded by settlements.
The Center is especially concerned for the frequent settlers’ attacks on the area under the protection of the Israeli army.
Al Mezan condemns the Israeli crimes perpetrated against al-Mawasi and calls upon the international human rights organizations to initiate a solidarity campaign with the civilian population of the area.
The Center calls the international community to intervene and end the siege of al-Mawasi and the Palestinian Occupied Territories.
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