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October 1, 2003: October 18, 2003: |
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30 July 04 Parts of human flesh are spread all across the streets... a part of a leg is there, and some human fingers here. Car parts are everywhere. Hundreds of people gathered around the car that had just been hit by an A pache warplane. Medical teams began collecting the parts of the murdered people. Abu Youisf Al Najjar hospital announced the names of the people who were killed. They are originally from Khanyounis and they were killed with apaches rockets that targeted their car as it passed in Al Genina neighborhood, near the Martyrs cemetery in Rafah. Those are: 41 year old Zaki Abu Rezka and 35 Amro Abu Setteh.
29 July 04
In less than 3 hours a number of tanks and two bulldozers invaded Al Shua'at area in the Western part of Rafah leaving 6 additional demolished buildings. According to one of the eyewitnesses in the area: "We were not sleeping yet because of the shooting, and then we were surprised when we heard the sound of the bulldozer levers near our house. We had no time to say stop, because if I scream they would not hear my voice because of bombings." The demolished buildings belong to Monier Hasonah, Ali Hasonah, Ahmed Abu Imsamih, Salaeh Al Hilkawi in addition to other two houses related to Al Yajzi and Abu Jazar families. On the other hand, few hours ago the Israeli bulldozers began demolishing chicken and animal farms, trees and different kind of vegetable crops and left at least 11 demolished buildings in the Rafah crossing point. The Rafah crossing point is still cl osed up till this moment and thousands of people are waiting for the crossing point to open again so they can go and get back into the Gaza Strip. Medical and relief teams are unable to move towards the area, because moving over there means killing them. BREAKING NEWS: Apaches arrived into Rafah sky just two minutes ago and began raining heavy rockets and bullets towards different areas, in addition to that, a large numbers of tanks and bulldozers are gathering in Al Salam and Al Brazil neighborhoods.
23 July 04
Laila, Jamil's sister weeping when she heard what happened to her brother who was killed He insisted on putting the Palestinian flag amidst the rubble of his demolished house in Block "O" area in Rafah refugee Camp, and an Israeli soldier responded with 7 bullets in different parts of his body. 17 year old Jamil Al Farmawi died, as Israel refused to give permission to the ambulance to bring his body back to his family, and let it stay in the rubble of his house for 24 hours. Al Framwai family is still living in a shelter in UNRWA school. His family consists of 33 members all of whom live in the classroom of Al Khansa school after demolishing their home in Block "O" area. His mother was overwhelmed with sadness when she heard about the killing of her son under the rubble of their demolished home.. At the same moment of Al Farmwai funeral, shooting continued near the borderline and a 4 year old boy was killed.. Over 15 tanks, 4 bulldozers and two apache warplanes participated in the latest heavy incursion leaving 22 demolished houses in Al Brazil and Al Salam neighborhood, and 4 houses in Al Shuaa't district in Rafah. Palestinian sources said there were 36 new families among the homeless families sheltered in schools. Abu Mohammed Al Shaer (50), a man living in a school, said that as soon as the bulldozers and the tanks invaded the camp they all went to hide inside their houses, but a few hours later they were surprised that tens of soldiers with their police dogs invaded their homes, insulting and abusing them. "They left the house but not before destroying the furniture," he said. In the early morning, around 6 o'clock in the morning a very loud bomb exploded in one of the buildings, then the tanks and bulldozers withdrew from the invaded areas. Rafah Municipality, relief teams a nd medical workers went quickly to the area and found that the bulldozers succeeded in breaking water pipes, and now there is a mixture of clean drinking water and the sewage system water. In an interview with the manger of water and sewage system department at Rafah municipality, Ashraf Ghoneem, he said: "Our workers went in the early morning to fix problem before a health crisis occurs. It is clear that the Israeli Army deliberately made such troubles in the infrastructure."
Relatives of 17 year old Jamil Al Farmwai weeping when the body of Jamil was brought to his family. 20 July 04 BREAKING NEWS: The Apaches Warplanes shelling the houses of the civilance houses in Hay Al Salam neighborhood by heavy bullets and rockets.
Waving the Japanese flag "Hey boys listen! I have a brilliant idea to get out our hand-carts, it's the Japanese flag which might be the only that which finds respect from the troops and can stop the shooting at us "said one of the 10 boys who was protesting an Israeli bulldozer trying to destroy their hand- carts that they use to help in carrying the passenger's baggage and get some money in return 1 shekel (20% of 1 US dollar). "That hand-cart is my life and destroying it means destroying my family's life as well" said one of the children who could not continue his speech to me because three bullets hit the wall that was only two meters away from us. The children began encouraging the idea of holding the Japanese flag. They found it the only hope that might keep them safe, stop the shooting towards them and bring the hand-carts. Unfortunately, the Japanese flag did not protect them, because when they came closer to the Israeli militant jeep and the bulldozer which was breakikng their hand-carts, the soldiers in the jeep began shooting towards them. Nevertheless the children insisted more and more and got closer and closer to the jeep to bring their hand-carts, but a loudspeaker came from the jeep in broken Arabic accent saying: "Leave from here or I will shoot you." The boy answered:" Not without my cart.” Hilmi, a 14 year old boy answered. The soldier again asked the boy to leave but he answered him answered him by saying:” It's my family's only income, the only way I can bring food to them all. The bullets came of course and they all had to flee with the militanry jeep following them and surrounding them in an olive grove. All the children had to then flee from the olive grove and to jump out of that high iron bar and barbed wires. The boys were all able to escape.
Children fleeing 19 July 04
Injured people from the people who were participating in the demonstration against Musa Arafat appointment as a general chief in Gaza Strip and West Bank It is nearly 8:20 in the evening and getting darker. A demonstration is just strating after militant groups sparked a serio us internal PA crisis, that moved to the streets. Thousands demonstrated against the newly appointed head of national security. Thousands demonstrated Saturday night in Rafah, protesting against Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's decision to appoint his nephew Musa Arafat as the head of national security forces. Protesters accused Musa Arafat of corruption. Under the pressure of a series of abductions, Arafat decided to unify all of his security devices in 3 only: police, national security, and intelligence. Arafat replaced Ghazi Jabali, who earlier on Friday was abducted and then released, with Saeb Al-Ajez. Appointing his nephew Musa Arafat as the head of national security created an uproar within Fatah, and among the public in Gaza Strip. 14 people were in the clashes between demonstrators and PA loyal member to Mussa Arafat in the Palestinian Authority. Tens of demonstrators tried to torch Rafah inelligence headquarters during clashes by exchange fire and stones between the masked and angry people from the militant Fateh wing Al Aqsa Brigades and some loyal and supporters of the newly appointed chief intelligenc e Musa Arafat, and they continued the whole last night and ended by 14 facilities including Reuter's photographer Ahmed Baba. A similar demonstration took place by Fateh movement's angry people and others in all the camps of Gaza City, as in Khanyounis, demonstrators torched the intelligence headquarters. The demonstrators accused the newly appointed chief Musa Arafat of corruption. In Khanyounis also Abu Arish wing in Fateh movement announced that four French workers were kidnapped from the headquarters of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in the center of the town. A few hours later, the same wing released the four French people under pressure from President Aarfat, as the mentioned wing excused that kind of kidnapped as a way of pressure on Arafat to remove some corrupted chief in Gaza. Musa Arafat said to the journalists in Gaza during a press conference that he does not intend to resign, describing the protests against his appointment as a summer cloud that will disappear soon. On the political side, The commander of Palestinian navey Juma Ghali, the head of the Preventive Security, Rashid Abu Shbak, and commander of the General Security Amin Al-Hindi, submitted their resignation in protest to the appointment of Musa Arafat. This morning, President Arafat response to the Gaza Strip’s street by annulling the appointment of Mussa Arafat as a national security chief of Gaza Strip and West Bank and replaced Musa Aarfat by the previous chief Abedelrzek Al Majaedeh. 15 July 04
Injured child at Abu Yousif Al Najjar hospital in Rafah. He was injusted during random shelling at buildings A 16 year old girl has been killed by Israeli bullets in Rafah during the daily shelling in Rafah.. Right before dawn we heard ambulances near Al Shboura neighborhood in Rafah Camp carrying injured people duri ng the random shelling.. Abu Yousif Al Najjar hospital said that 16 year old girl Halima Abu Samhadanah was shot in the chest, while a few other people were also injured in the same area as a result of rockets falling on civilian buildings in AL Shaboura camp which is one kilometer away from the borderline. Slowly killing us "They are killing us slowly with that crossing point" said an old woman waiting in the crossing point of Rafah. She had been waiting there for many days under the hot sunshine in order to travel to Egypt for an urgent heart surgery. Rafah crossing point is the only place where people of Gaza Strip can get out. Everyday hundreds of people wait there for permission to travel abroad.
Rafah children hiding during an incursion 11 July 04
The IOF attacked Rafah from the South, Khanyounis in the Middle and BeitHanon in the South of Gaza Strip. Everywhere you go, you find the effects of the Israeli offensive in all Gaza. The Israeli troops invaded Al Brazil Camp by Apache warplanes with over 15 tanks and 4 bulldozers leaving 5 demolished buildings and a large number of demolished shops. Four women and a child were injured during random shelling from Israeli posts based on the borderline. Tahani Keshta (30) injured in her leg, Halimah Nana (26) by an explosive bullet in different parts of her body, Alia Al Romi (22) injured in her backbone, and 65 year old Suad Fujuo injured in her left leg and left bleeding for along time bleeding on the ground. Medical sources in Abu Youisf Al Najjar said that 4 year old Sahar Fujuo was injured in her head. In addition Osama Saker (24), and Anas Abu Armanah (26) were also injured.. In Rafah now there is a military buildup with more militanry tanks and bulldozers, in addition to the apaches and the fires that they shoot at night… "They demolished my house, but they will never destroy my will," a 38 year old man said while collecting what remained from his demolished building in Al Brazil camp in Rafah.. "What is your message to the world?" I asked an old woman who was busy collecting what remained from her demolished building. She answered: "I have been talking and for so long complaining and appealing to the world but there are no results and not even a condemnation at least." From the catastrophe of damaged Rafah to Khanyounis, where Israeli military troops invaded Al Nimsawi neighborhood and the Western Camp and demolished 25 houses and many people were injured and killed.. The began in a late hours late hours by shelling the civilians homes by Apaches and not allowing ambulances to transfer the injured and killed people into hospitals.. This morning also in Khanyounis, the Israeli military forces killed a 14 year old boy, Hamadah Al Shaer. Al Shaer was killed in his house during shelling from the Israeli settlement of Jaded which is based in Khanyounis. Ten people were killed!! In Biet Hanon, there was a real massacre and it is continuing up till now by Apache warplanes, bulldozers and tanks. They killed 10 people and tens of people were injured, in addition to a very large numbers of demolished houses and trees.. Those who were killed during the incursion are: Yusif Al Zanin, Naim Al Kafarnah, Naser Aldeen Abu Harbid, Zaher Abu Harbid, Nahed Abu Awdah, Hamed Abu Awdah, Jamil Al Kafarnah and Jamilah Al Kafarnah, in addition to two unidentified bodies. Eyewitnesses say that the Israeli Occupation Forces are invading Beit Hanon for the 9th day and people are not permitted to get out of their homes, in addition to more killing and injured people. Running out of food and water Beit Hanon has no food, water, nor electricity, and is under complete militanry closure. People are not allowed to get out from their homes to bring food... Israeli troops are still invading Beit Hanon up till this moment and the area has so many killed and injured people who cannot go to hospitals because ambulances and relief workers are unable to get to the injured and dead.. Breaking News by phone from one of the journalists there: "The Israeli bulldozers and tanks are coming towards Jabalya Refugee Camp. Israeli Apaches are shelling buildings right now, and soldiers are occupying the house of Nasser Al Zanin and had turned it into a militanry barrack." A father was injured with his child and another man in a shelling that target ed a white Mercedes taxi, which was in Salaheldeen Street in Gaza City.. Two rockets fell from the Israeli warplanes towards the taxi, leaving the three injured: 5 year old Mohammed Amjad Jaber, his father Amjad Youisf Jaber (32), and (30) year old Ibrahim Tabet. Talking about evacuation plan from Gaza The media is now publishing about the Israeli pull out from the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military forces just began digging a new street near Kfar Daroom settlement, in addition to closing Abu Holi checkpoint and forcing people to stand under the hot sunshine. They also arrested 6 people at the checkpoint..
A Palestinian man walks near the demolished shops in Al Brazil neighborhood For more photos from Beit Hanon please click here 6 July 2004
The moment that Yassir's father arrived the hospital after he has been told about the killing of his son, as some relatives trying to help him after he fell down when he saw his son dead
Misery, blood, tears, suffering, blackness, sorrow and fear
The difficult moment of farewell: Yassir's sister after she arrived at the hospital mourning her brother who was taken to the morgue of Abu Youisst Al Najjar hospital.
Misery, blood, tears, suffering, blackness, sorrow and fear and real catastrophe, which no one has seen before nor any mind can imagine. I don’t know what to do or how to begin to describe what I have seen in the past few days in Rafah and especially for the family of Yassir Al Arja (25) killed by the Israelis in random shelling. I'm afraid that I might not do this family justice by not conveying their feelings that day when they received the news that their son was killed.. Farewell: Farewells break the hearts and minds. This family is considered one of the poorest families in Rafah.. Yassir's sister arrived at the hospital hitting herself after she heard the news that her brother was killed by the Israeli Occupation Forces.. His mother, father and brother where grieving and weeping the whole day.. Yassir was killed while helping his relatives take out what remained of their damaged furniture. He was killed immediately in the rubble of the building.. Yassir's mother arrived the hospital crying and saying: "For 25 years I have been bringing him up and his end comes with a cheap bullet?" < font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2">He was playing soccer: A few hours before Yassir's murder, 9 year old Mohamed Zaran was killed while playing football.. His friend in the hospital said: "He was kicking the ball in the other goal but had no time because while holding the ball, the bullet was faster." The child was weeping while telling his stroy:" We were playing soccer and a bullet hit Mohammed leaving him on the ground where made there was a large pool of blood." Mohammed wanted to be an international football player to represent Palestine in the world cup when he grew up. Massacres again!!!!!!! As usual Apache warplanes did not leave Rafah's skies. The IOF targeted Al Brazil neighborhood in Rafah, leaving 16 completely and partially demolished buildings, 7 shops, and also electricity providers. Many more were injured and dead. This morning, thousands of people participated in the funeral of two people who were killed by the IOF: 4 year old Hayam Al Saher, and 28 year old Refaat Abu Amrah.. Ten minutes ago, a Palestinian lady, Samah Al Shaer was injured in her right leg and transferred to the hospital, and a young man Abdelsalam Al Jarbou was injured in his left arm. Those two civilians were injured during the continuous shelling in the buildings. No ones knows what the night carry for Rafah families... you might have seen someone in the street, but don’t be surprised if you find the next day his/her funrel. Killing people has become a normal thing... 1 July 2004 By telephone from Mohammed: The IDF demolished the internet providers and now there is no internet at all in Gaza Strip - in addition to lack of electricity. Also most of the phones are damaged and Gaza strip is divided into three parts. Lack of food.
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