Israeli forces invaded northern Gaza, one of the most populated areas of the Gaza Strip. Israeli spokespersons announced that they carried out the invasion to stop Palestinian militants firing Qassam rockets on Israeli towns. The invasion is ongoing and open-ended. Israeli forces have killed at least 27 Palestinians. Israeli forces are in control of the main streets in northern Gaza and are inside Jabalia refugee camp, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia. Israel shelled civilians in Jabalia, killing 9 Palestinians and wounding dozens more. Only one of the dead could be identified because the bodies were completely disfigured. Read more about Gaza Daily Update, 9.30 PM
Israeli forces killed more Palestinians in northern Gaza. Residents of Jabalia refugee camp took to the street protesting Israel’s killings and destruction during the past few days. Israeli forces continued shelling residential areas. Israeli forces demolished dozens of homes in Beit Lahia. Israeli forces confiscated a number of homes and turned them into military posts. Israeli tanks fire shells at homes and various places are cut off from food, water and medicines. Israeli forces prevent ambulances from access the sick and wounded. Israeli forces continue their assault on Gaza’s largest refugee camp. Read more about Gaza Daily Update, 10.00 PM
Israeli forces carry out a wide-scaled invasion of northern Gaza. Forty-four Palestinians have been killed so far. Israeli forces destroyed numerous homes and private property. Ambulances are not allowed access. Residents in all besieged communities suffer from lack of food, water and medicines. The humanitarian situation deteriorates. Israeli forces destroyed homes in Jabalia, Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun. An Israeli airplane fired a missile at a crowd in Tel Az Zatar, killing three civilians. Israeli tanks invaded Salah ad Din Street, isolating the Izba neighborhood in Beit Hanoun. Israeli forces fired at an ambulance in Jabalia. Read more about Gaza Daily Update, 10.00 PM
The past two days witnessed more deterioration of the security situation in the Gaza Strip indicating a crisis within the Palestinian community. The crisis has come to the surface following several cases of kidnapping of Palestinian security commanders and international citizens by armed groups on Friday 16 July 2004 in different parts of the Gaza Strip. Despite President Arafat actions to unify the different Palestinian security apparatuses and proceed to changes in the security and police command, an eruption of the crisis is still imminent. Accordingly, the Palestinian National Security Council took the decision to impose a state of emergency in the Palestinian Territory. Read more about Mezan warns about serious consequences of the declaration of emergency
On Sunday 23 May, at about 10am, Israeli tanks stormed the Brazil neighborhood. They took control of the main streets and opened fire on the area before they proceeded to demolish Palestinian homes. Israeli officials confirmed that the military operation in Rafah would go on for several days. Israeli forces continue to block the streets leading to Tel Al Sultan and the main road between Rafah and Khan Yunis. They pulled out of some areas. Israeli forces killed at least 44 Palestinians since the beginning of “Operation Rainbow” on May 18. Israeli forces killed another 15 Palestinians during an invasion on May 14 and May 15, after an Israeli APC exploded in Rafah. This brings the death toll in Rafah to 59 over the past ten days. Read more about Rafah Daily Update, 9.00pm
Two days after the temporary halt of Israel’s latest military operation in the Gaza Strip in which over 100 homes in Rafah were demolished, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz says IOF will escalate its activities in the Gaza Strip, particularly in the area of the Rafah-Egypt boarder-line. Israeli army Chief of Staff, Moshe Ya’alon confirmed that the IOF plans to demolish hundreds of Palestinian houses along the Rafah-Egypt border. Human rights organizations, UN and several international organizations asserted that such intentional demolition constitutes grave breaches to international humanitarian law and crimes of war. Read more about Rafah Daily Update
At around 1 am on Tuesday, 18 May 2004, Israeli apaches fired two missiles on Block P in Rafah refugee camp killing three Palestinians and injuring five others. The three persons killed are: 24-year-old Muhammad Khalil Al Hindi; 27-year-old Walid Musa Al Jazzar; and 27-year-old Muhammad Abdul Rahman An Nawajha. They died from missiles shrapnel in different parts of their bodies. At 4:10 am, Israeli tanks and bulldozers entered the Tel Al Sultan neighborhood and the nearby so-called Western refugee camp in Rafah. Israeli Apaches fired two missiles on Bilal Ibn Rabah Mosque in Block Q, killing five Palestinians. Read more about Rafah Daily Update, 12.00am
On the first day of the Israeli offensive in Rafah, 20 Palestinians were killed by 6 pm, 7 of whom are children. Medical sources, as well as Al Mezan’s own fieldworker, reported that the number of the injured reached over 50 while ambulance movement is still obstructed, contrary to an Israeli Army’s statement. Medical staff are still being besieged in a house as Israeli tanks surround the area and fire on anything moving. Eyewitnesses in Rafah reported to Al Mezan’s fieldworker that Asmaa Khalifa, a teacher who lives in Tel Al Sultan, could not reach a medical center to give birth to her baby. With tanks in front of her house firing at anything that moves, she was taken from window to window till she reached the house of a midwife in the area. Read more about Rafah Daily Update, 9.00pm
Today, Israeli forces continued military operations in Rafah. Israeli tanks are still blocking the streets leading to Tel Al Sultan and are present in Brazil neighborhood, as well as on the main road between Rafah and Khan Yunis. Israeli officials said that Israeli forces will continue their operations. Israeli forces killed at least 44 Palestinians and wounded more than 120 Palestinians. The humanitarian situation deteriorates. Water networks and other infrastructure has been destroyed. There are reports about health risks due to mixed sewage and water in Tel Al Sultan. Israeli forces continue demolishing Palestinian homes. Read more about Rafah Daily Update, 3.00pm
Adalah, Al-Haq, Al Mezan Center For Human Rights, Habitat International Coalition, Palestinian Center for Human Rights and World Organisation Against Torture
22 May 2004
As the situation in Rafah and elsewhere in the Gaza Strip further deteriorates, local and international human rights organisations deplore the inaction of the international community.�The last two weeks have seen the devastation of residential areas in southern Gaza, as Israeli occupying forces have demolished hundreds of homes, cut water and electricity lines, and left over 2,000 Palestinian refugees homeless.� In a chilling development, Israeli forces have demolished houses in which the residents who have not been given warning were still inside.� Scores of Palestinians have been killed during the last two weeks, including the killing of 8 Palestinians and injuring of 41 others during a peaceful demonstration on 19 May 2004. Read more about Human Rights groups: "No State is Above the Law"