On Wednesday 17 March 2004, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) entered Block O in Rafah refugee camp, destroying 50 homes, killing 5 Palestinians and injuring 17 others.
Al Mezan's fieldworkers reported that IOF demolished 50 homes, 31 of which were completely destroyed.
As a result, 438 people lost their places of residence.
Since the beginning of the Al Aqa Intifada on 28 September 2000 at total 1,926 homes were demolished or severely damaged by the IOF in Rafah alone, leaving 13,834 people homeless.
During the same incursion, the IOF killed five Palestinians listed below: • Faraj Saeed Abu Jazar, aged 24 • Mahmoud Abu Nahal, aged 40 • Musbah Abdullah Mwafi, aged 14 • Ala' Wail Al Jadeely, aged 15 • Muhammad Abu Taha, aged 27 A 13-year-old child, Mahmoud Sameer Al Najjar, was also injured during the morning hours of 18 March in the same area due to firing from the IOF posts_en along the borderline.
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights emphasizes that Israel's claims that homes are being destroyed on the pretext that they are seeking tunnels used for smuggling are false.
Evidently, the IOF’s intention behind the demolition process over the past years is to create a security zone along the border.
All the houses and buildings located within 150 to 350 meters of the boarder are being systematically demolished.
After numerous incursions, Israeli army sources themselves have announced that no tunnels had been found.
In any cases, the wide-scaled demolition of civilians' homes violates International Law.
The Center renews its appeal to the International Community to immediately intervene and put an end to IOF's illegal practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), which constitute war crimes according to the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The Center draws the attention to the fact that protecting Palestinian civilians and their property under the Israeli occupation is a legal and moral responsibility.
International protection is most needed at this very particular time.