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Israel seals off Gaza, marks begin of disengagement

15 August 2005


As the Israeli Occupying Forces (IOF) begin to remove illegal Israeli settlers from the Gaza Strip and redeploy their military forces along the border areas - Palestinian civilians are being affected by closures, arrests and attacks across the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). Fieldworkers of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights report from Al Sayafa, a sealed Palestinian enclave between the Dogit and Elli Sinai settlements and from southern Gaza, Al Mawasi, a sealed Palestinian enclave inside the Gush Katif settlement bloc. Over the next three weeks, Israel plans to remove all 21 Jewish settlements from Gaza and four from the West Bank. 

Amnesty is concerned at growing lawlessness in Gaza

12 August 2005


Amnesty International is gravely concerned at the mounting loss of civilian lives, frequent abductions and other abuses, as violent clashes between Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces and armed groups have escalated in recent weeks. With lawlessness becoming more entrenched, civilians are left vulnerable to abuses. Endemic power struggles and in-fighting between rivalling PA factions and a multitude of armed groups have significantly increased in the lead-up to Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, due later this month. PA security forces have so far proved unable or unwilling to control the activities of armed groups and to hold them accountable for their crimes. 

Compensation if you are displaced, unless you are Palestinian

Jeff Handmaker and Adri Nieuwhof 14 August 2005


The world’s attention is focussed on the “plight” of settler-colonists from the Gaza Strip and some in the West Bank, who have to leave their homes. However, we have to remember that the settlements were illegally-constructed in the first place and that the settlers will receive substantial compensation. But without exception settlers knew that they were moving to an area that was conquered in war. In contracts for the sale or rental of land in the occupied territories there was a clause that explicitly stated their temporary nature. Jeff Handmaker and Adri Nieuwhof comment that, while US-taxpayers foot the bill for the so-called pull-out, virtually no attention is being paid to Palestinians whose property has been demolished over the years, not to mention those who were deprived of their homeland since 1948. 

Disengagement diary

Eóin Murray Gaza City, Palestine 14 August 2005


There is certainly something in the air. Gunfire, cheering - general celebrations. Outside the al Shawa Convention Centre in the heart of el-Rimal distract of Gaza City there are marches - last night by Islamic Jihad - to celebrate the redeployment of the Israeli military. On Friday Fatah held another demonstration in Gaza City. Hamas have been practising for redeployment all week by letting off random explosions. Each side is trying to claim the redeployment for its own. The PLO Flag Shop in Gaza City is decked out with special t-shirts celebrating what they call “withdrawal”. There are Palestinian flags hanging outside the shop with “FREE GAZA” printed on them in black. 

Photo of the Day

Najeeb Al-Anbarri 14 August 2005


Photo of the Day is a BNN feature which offers a photograph on a day, and calls it “Photo of the Day”. This is not to imply that this is a regular feature, nor that this photo is truly the mother of all photos for the day in question. Usual disclaimers apply. This photo of the day was taken by Marcy Newman, of a section of Israel’s Wall near Bethlehem. On the right, someone has stenciled part of BNN’s header showing Ariel Sharon and Star Wars character Jabba the Hutt! 

Jerusalem tense ahead of Gaza pullout

Khalid Amayreh 14 August 2005


Tension is rising in East Jerusalem as thousands of Jewish extremists have vowed to storm the Haram al-Sharif compound, one of Islam’s holiest sites, ahead of Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. The threats coincide on Sunday with the annual commemoration of the destruction of an ancient Jewish temple, considered one of the bleakest days in the Jewish calendar. A mass gathering of extremist Jews is scheduled in Jerusalem’s Old City. Hundreds of police officers and paramilitary troops have been deployed in and around the Old City to prevent a possible clash between Jewish extremists and Palestinian Muslims. Thousands of Muslims already have arrived at the Haram al-Sharif, or Noble Sanctuary, compound to repulse any attempts to storm it. 

Photostory: Burj el-Shemali Refugee Camp - Lebanon

Stefan Christoff 14 August 2005


Burj el-Shemali is a Palestinian refugee camp, located in Southern Lebanon on the outskirts of the city of Tyre. Upwards of 20 000 refugees reside in Burj el-Shemali, which is one of Lebanon’s most impoverished camps. Similar to other refugee camps in the south of Lebanon, Burj el-Shemali is home to cases of extreme poverty, thousands of camp residents are essentially homeless, residing in make-shift shelters with zinc roofing, without basic plumbing, water supply and little income. 

'With' or 'Against' the Gaza Disengagement Plan

Tamar Amir 13 August 2005


As we waited at the Modi’in junction for the traffic light to turn green, Jewish settlement youth were distributing ribbons in two colors, orange and blue/white. The orange ribbons represent those ‘against’ the Gaza disengagement plan. The white/blue on the other hand represent those ‘with’ the Gaza disengagement plan. As these dedicated youth approached our car I contemplated for a moment which ribbon I would choose. I decided not to disappoint either team and took one of each. However, the main question is, which of these ribbons would I display on my car antenna to publicly reflect my political opinion? 

Gaza town to be closed during pullout

Laila El-Haddad 12 August 2005


Israeli forces have notified Palestinians living near a Gaza settlement of a month-long closure of their community, just days prior to the upcoming withdrawal from the area. Abdullah Maani, a local leader of the al-Ma’ani area in the Central Gaza Strip town of Dair al-Balah, told Aljazeera.net that Israeli forces notified him on Friday of a closure that would seal off his community from the rest of the Gaza Strip for three to four weeks, starting this coming Wednesday. “The soldier told us there will be a complete closure, and that he is giving us advance notification so we can stockpile water and food, adding that no one will be allowed in or out, except in extreme cases and with prior coordination,” Maani said. 

Gaza Smokescreen: An interview with Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Hind Khoury

13 August 2005


“The Gaza disengagement has been used by the Israeli government as a smokescreen to cover for what it is doing in East Jerusalem. These measures include the continued construction of the wall, and, as per their decision this July, to practically close off East Jerusalem from the West Bank starting September 1. People will then have to pass what they call crossings but are in reality de facto borders.” Palestine Report Online interviews Hind Khoury on Israel’s unilateral actions in East Jerusalem.