24/2/2001

Press Release: The Belligerent Israeli Occupation Forces escalate their aggression and divide the Gaza Strip into four parts

1. On Friday 23/2/2001 in a dangerous escalation the Israeli Occupation Forces completely separated again the north of the Gaza Strip from the south thus preventing completely the movement of individuals, goods and vehicles across Salah ad-Din Road. This was carried out by closing Al-Shuhada Crossing with cement blocks and the bulldozing of the coastal road and its closure with sand piles. The prevention of movement included ambulances. Thus the Occupation Forces prevented the movement of an ambulance belonging to Abu Yusuf Al Najjar Hospital in Rafah at Al-Shuhada Crossing which was heading for Shifa Hospital in Gaza and which was transporting Talal Hasan Abu Arida 18 years-old, who was injured in the head with a machine-gun bullet in Rafah. The ambulance was only allowed through after three hours even though the medical team indicated to the occupation soldier the gravity of the case. It is worth mentioning that the occupation forces continue since 25/11/2001 to close Salah ad-Din Road which is the main road that connects the north of Gaza with the south. This closure leads to the division of Gaza into four isolated parts:

The area between ash-Shuhada Crossing to the south and Bait Hanun to the north.
The area between ash-Shuhada Crossing to the north and Kufar Darum to the south.
The area between Kufar Darum to the north and Rafah to the South.
The Mawasi area between Khan Yunis and Rafah which is totally closed to he outside world and the entrance to or exit from is forbidden.

2. In addition to this, the belligerent Israeli Occupation Forces have shelled with tank artillery from the Ily Sinai Settlement in the northern most point in Gaza two National Security positions, numbers 2 and 3, situated to the north of the Bedouin Village in Bait Lahia near the truce line. Following the shelling military bulldozers have proceeded to bulldoze the two above-mentioned military points and level them completely.
3. The continued policy of aggression by the forces of occupation prevented a number of PLC and PNC members from attending the Conference of Arab Parliaments in the United Arab Emirates.
What the Israeli belligerent forces of occupation have carried out constitutes a systematic violation of the rules of international law and especially the provisions of the 4th Geneva Convention according to which a collective punishment, a continuation of war crimes and crimes against humanity are being perpetrated. In the light of the dangerous situation which the Israeli Forces have brought about and their continuing escalation and their targeting of Palestinian civilians and their property the immediate intervention of the international community is demanded in order to put an end to the continuing massacre and in accordance with the legal and moral duties in relation to the Palestinian civilians and what is demanded by international law. Al Mezan Center warned of the danger of the silence of the international community towards the crimes perpetrated by the occupation forces against the Palestinian citizens and their property. This silence has led to and continues to lead to the proliferation of the violations of the Palestinians’ human rights. Al Mezan emphasizes at the same time the importance of international protection for the civilians living in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and bringing the Israeli war criminals before an international court.

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