The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) launched two incursions in the Al Shija’ya neighborhood of Gaza City and Rafah, southern the Gaza Strip today 11 February 2004, killing 13 Palestinians and injuring 51 others.
According to the information collected by Al Mezan’s fieldworkers, the IOF entered both the main street in the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, at approximately 4:15 am today.
The IOF took control of the area between Zorob junction and Block J in the Rafah refugee camp and opened fire.
25-year-old Ibrahim Zorob was killed, while seven others were injured; one of whom died in the hospital.
The IOF had not yet withdrawn from the area at time this release was issued, and the information of the damages to life and property today is not yet available.
In Gaza City, IOF launched an incursion into the Al Shija’ya neighborhood.
According to eyewitnesses, four Israeli military jeeps opened fire on a Palestinian police post, killing one person before tanks and bulldozers arrived.
The IOF occupied two homes and used their roofs as observation and firing points.
12 persons were killed as a result of the incursion: - Muhammad Abu Armaneh, aged 23; - Haitham Abid, aged 25; - Muhammad Al Ijleh, aged 22; - Ismail Abu Al Atta, aged 28; - Muhammad Hillis, aged 26; - Mahdi Zaydiyeh, aged 25; - Amir Al Ghamari, aged 25; - Ashraf Hasaneen, aged 22; - Ayman Ash-Sheikh Khalil; - Hany Abu Skhila, aged 25; - Akram I’qilan, aged 25; - Muhammad Al Hayik, aged 25.
41 people were also injured in this area, four of whom are currently in critical conditions.
The IOF mined and destroyed the house of Ashraf Abu Hasaneen before withdrawing from the area at around 12:30.
The three-story- house was occupied by three families.
Moreover, they destroyed one car and one bulldozer.
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights gravely condemns these incursions and the IOF’s excessive use of force in civilian areas.
These acts constitute serious violations of the International Law and grave breaches of Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Times of War, of 12 August 1949.
The Center calls upon the International Community to intervene immediately to protect Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and bring the Israeli war criminals who perpetrated, or ordered, these crimes to justice.