13 November

During a funeral, sad moments when 18 civilans were killed at once

Palestinian children, Rima Athamneh , 1, and Ala Athamneh , 1, were killed by the Israeli tank shells in gaza togather with most of their family

Palestinian woman walking by a wall riddled with bullets and tank shells in Beit Hanoun

Mosque demolished by the Israeli bullodozers

“How long will Israel be allowed to continue to kill our women, children and old men inside their houses, villages and camps? How long should we continue to be slaughtered while the world watches?” asked Ms. Al Atamneh, one of the survivors of a family recently killed by Israeli Occupation Forces. Through a veil of tears, she then showed the damage to her house caused by Israeli tank shells. “Where is the world, God? Why are we getting killed? My little nephew, Amjad, while sleeping, was killed by the Israelis right here,” she said crying and pointing to where his bed was.

“The child was simply sleeping, possibly having a nice dream. But he never woke up. Neither were ambulance workers allowed to reach him even if there was any hope of saving him. Amjad’s arm was missing. No one could find it.”

Amjad’s younger sister was murdered by Israeli soldiers using rockets as well. Unites States made and paid tank shells splattered her little body all over the house. Her brains were all over her bed. Fingers, arms, legs and pieces of human flesh were all over the place.

"No one can believe the image—I tried to help, but I was also injured in my leg, but everyone is dead by the tank shells which hit all the child and every body, even my mother who's 70 years old woman, a woman who lived peacefully and have nothing to do with the army, she got killed, she did nothing, nothing, nothing, but she got killed by the Israeli tank shell" she added.

Even the animals, cows and goats were killed by the attack when the Israeli bulldozers demolished a small animal farm of the family. The Israeli soldiers also destroyed the van of her father which cost 11 Jordanian Deinar. She said even that would be fine as long as our children and we survive.

"I can believe it, my own mother who raise me, there was a moment where I was not able to see even look at her before she got buried" the young woman said crying. She was obviously angry. " It's not only the tanks shells, but also the drone planes which hit our house from all over see here, look here and there and see our lives—see the wholes and the damaged furniture, look at the blood in the walls, see even the Palestinian flag is a witness on the crimes"

She continued talking with a tone of anger and stress. What really angered her is the fact that the Israelis knew there were children in the house. “It was one day when the soldiers were inside our home and they imposed siege on us, they didn’t let us go out and they kept telling us to shut up or they were going to shoot us. The soldiers purposely kept scaring the children by pointing their weapons at them. The children were not even allowed to go to the bathroom while the soldiers were there.” Holding a Palestinian flag in her hands she said, “This is the reason we are being killed, we are Palestinians. The soldiers are angry because we have the flag of our country.” The Israeli soldiers told her they did not want Palestinians to live. While crying, she put the bullet-ridden Palestinian flag back on the wall saying, “But Israel who kills innocents will not kill the spirit of the Palestinians who remain alive. Shame on America which provides Israel with weapons. Shame on America for remaining silent while their Israeli allies murder innocent civilians and commit crimes against humanity. She then prepared to go to another one of many funerals in occupied Palestine.

When visitors of the Rafah refugee Camp saw the camp, they thought that it was struck with an earthquake.









It seems international officials hadn't heard about Rafah. They haven't heard about those children who were seeking water day and night at a time that the Israeli bulldozers and tanks had been demolishing their water stations.



When they took their tour in the area after the partial withdrawal of the IDF, which has been attacking Rafah these past three weeks, they discovered that it's the Israeli Army which has demolished houses, demolished trees, demolished agricultural houses, demolished water stations, demolished electricity stations, cut the phone lines, killed about seventeen people and injured over one hundred twenty-four, most of them were seriously.

Peter Hansen, UNRWA spokesman, was the only person who visited the area and took a tour between the rubble of the houses after the withdrawal from Yebana Refugee Camp. When he saw these crimes he described them by saying: "We have very very significant damage to the refugee camp."



Many people are still unaccounted for and it is not known whether they were demolished together with their houses or were arrested by Israeli soldiers.

Feeling the plight of the people is something easy while walking in the camps which has all turned into rubble.

I interviewed an old woman sitting in one of the tents at sunset and she had her hand on her face. Her name is Um Ali Redwan, a 65 year old woman who has 33 members to her house which had consisted of three floors.



When I asked her about what was wrong, she answered me by saying:

"Thinking! Thinking of this time when I was yesterday with my family living in our house and now I am sitting in this tent which is not protecting me from the cold weather.

This time we lost everything. Children lost their clothes, I lost all my furniture, and all things turned to rubble. In the meantime, everyone is watching us.

My sons and their children have all become homeless, and me and my old husband who is ill also."

The tears began to fall down her cheeks and she said:

"The occupation didn’t respect this white hair...Israeli bulldozer drivers did not respect my old age and my old man's age. How I will be after this?"

Um Ali Radwan, 65 years old, has become homeless.



Tent. This word has become really famous now, spoken about by all the children in Rafah Refugee Camp.

The people go to the moon nowadays while the families in Rafah are still sleeping on the ground even sometimes without beds, just under this white sheet that is called a tent.

They had been living in their homes, but now Israeli bulldozers are partially withdrawing from the area leaving a large numbers of homeless families, and many paralyzed innocent children.

World without hearts, the majority of them have lost their feelings, lost the meaning of humanity...no values nor principles.

My brother...killed in cold blood, amidst international silence.

He was in the house when the Israeli bulldozers and tanks attacked the area and invaded the houses of our neighbors. The street was completely different and the only choices were two: either to get demolished with the house and be killed under the rubble, or to get out of the house and get killed from the shelling and shooting that doesn’t differentiate between child, old women or old man.

All are targeted.



My brother Hussam, 17 years old, was a secondary school student.

He was one of those people who chose not to get killed by being demolished with his body in the rubble of the house, so he went out of the house trying to find shelter or a safe area where he could go to. He went out of the house and immediately got killed by seven evil bullets — bullets of one of those countries who support Israeli army against children.

All American bullets, as the doctors said in the hospital.

In that moment when they killed him with seven American bullets, Wedad Al Ajrami, a 33 year old women, tried to help my brother and get him to the hospital, but they killed her also.

And now both of them have fallen.

Wedad's husband tried to help her but he was injured in his neck and all his body and now he is at the hospital seriously injured. Wedad's son tried to help his mother but they shot him and he also is at the hospital right now. Also the brother of Wedad's husband tried to help but he also got injured by the bullets of the Israeli army.

Five of them fell to the ground one after the other. The ground was full of the blood of all of the five people who were bleeding. The voice of one of the injured people was crying for help but no one heard him because of the shelling from everywhere, even from F16s and Apaches.

The ambulance driver came and it was the same situation: they tried to shoot him.

After a very long time the ambulance driver was able to carry the body of the my brother and the women in addition to three injured people, two of whom were seriously injured.

The moments can't be described when my mother got the news of the murder of my brother.

They were the worst in my whole life...when I saw my brother who was speaking with me a few hours ago, and now his face cold in the refrigerator of the hospital. I tried to talk to him but he wasn’t able to answer me. When I touched his face I began to understand things that I hate very much.

Wedad — what did she do to get killed by Israeli bullets? And now she has left behind four children, one of whom who is a baby child.

My brother got killed with seven evil bullets — why? Those trees that were demolished...those houses — why?

The drivers of the bulldozers and those iron machines didn’t answer the people who were asking the driver of the bulldozer to wait until they get out of their houses. The answer was more shelling — the bulldozers' drivers were in challenges, all of them trying to demolish and kill as many as they can.

Are there any people who hear this call? Are there any people who know about this? Are there any people who care? Are there human rights in Palestine? The questions are so many but they need answers that are not found in this world. In this world, the strong eat the weak...the same as living jungles.

Fingers just writing condolences, tongues just pronouncing all the words to express about sympathy to me WHILE their hands are still supporting Israel in the latest inventions of F16s, F15s, bulldozers and tanks.

So...Is That The Justice that Peace Makers Talk About?!

The IDF attacked Hai Al Salam area in Rafah with a very large number of tanks and bulldozers.

They demolished many houses and shot many people.

In addition they arrested four people with their father in the same area.

The Apaches are circling the Rafah sky all the time, shelling homes. This operation will be the same as they did in Yebna camps.

The number of demolished homes is 40.

Also, thousands of people have gathered in a very large demonstration under the Israeli Apache in solidarity with the families whose homes have been demolished in Rafah.

They are asking the relief foundations to help the homeless families...

But no response from any one.

The IDF blocked the UNRWA clinic which is located in the Yebna camp. This clinic assists and serves people in these hard times.

They demolished clothes shops located near the clinic, in addition to burning a supermarket. The area is completely closed by the bulldozers and tanks.

Right now they just killed 19 year old Zaki Al Sharif. He was killed while standing near his home in Block J area west Rafah.

Four other people were injured at the same time.

The shelling has been going on and on for three days now.

Dr. Ali Mousa, the director of Abu Yousef Al Najar hospital, said:

"The IDF used massive shells and cannons to cause a large number of injuries and most of the injured people were injured in the head and in sensitive parts of their bodies.

"If that attack is going to continue in this manner, there will be a medical crisis in all the area."

A call from the families in Palestinian Rafah —

A new massacre continues!

The F16s and Apaches are shelling innocent people. Shelling from everywhere. Every place. Every area. They shoot at large numbers of people.

They exploded two houses — the first one belonged to Mohsen Shat, and the other is not known.

In addition they demolished over fifty houses.

It's A REAL call from the families!

I heard one of the women, Um Ahmed saying:

"God we need water. Water, water! My children are going to die between my hands! Water! We need water!

Where are human rights. Where is the UN? and Mr. Anan?

We are being killed using your weapons, it's your weapons — we are all being killed all the time."

Um Ahmed was one of the thousands of people who have not had a drink of water since the morning.

We don’t have food. We can't go to hospitals. We don’t have electricity. We have injured people and cannot transfer them to their homes or hospitals.

The Israeli army announced through megaphones that people must leave the area.

They demolished many thousands of trees.

This is the third day with continuouss electricity blackout which just came back on right now so I am able now to write this.

Most areas have no electricity or water.

This is a real call by the many thousands of people here!

We are all asking for water and bread.

Many journalists have arrived in the area but couldn’t take pictures because the Israelis shot at them many times.

The Journalist Association asked all journalists in all the world to get out and publish about the crimes which the Israelis are committing against civilians.

I didn't take pictures although there are many things here because my camera is still broken since that time when the soldiers surrounded me and other journalists.

3 a.m. — October 9

I am writing this in a rush because I am afraid that the electricity will be off due to the shelling.

Right now, I am looking out of my window and writing. This is a description from my window —

The sky is full of smoke and I can not see anything except a large number of tanks and bulldozers with more F16s and Apaches.. All of these weapons right now..

The sky is covered with airplanes.

Difficult to know where the shooting is coming from.. All of them from every angle they are shooting at people leaving their houses.

Ambulances just came three minutes ago.

Children and women left their homes in their nightgowns and pajamas.

The sound of the tanks and bulldozers is very loud.

Everyone is asking themselves: "what is happening?" And all answer that what is happening is shelling and bulldozers from every direction.

Large groups of families leaving — to where?!!

We will not die in our homes.

No one is asking for help, because no one is answering us. We are all by ourselves.

The shelling is going on and on right now.

It is enough to write this for now, but I will write more if they don’t shell the electricity (power station).

This is the second attack in 48 hours. During the first attack they demolished about eleven houses and killed six people, two of whom were children.

.............

A new massacre against Rafah yesterday and up till these moments.

Over 70 people were injured and another seven were killed in the attack against Rafah by the latest models of F16s, Apaches, tanks and bulldozers.

Since yesterday they have demolished many people's homes. The ambulance men were trying to get out the people who have been under the rubble and other injured people from this early morning's attack.

It was difficult for families to identify their sons.

A 14 year old child had been shot in his head and a part of his head was missing. The ambulance had to transfer him without the head because the Israeli soldiers were shooting at the ambulance men.

Most of the injured were children and women as they were trying to get out of their houses searching for shelter.

Yebna camp has a curfew and if people attempt to go out of their houses, they get shot by soldiers. If they stayed at home they will be demolished with the houses.

Now, many ambulances are trying to get the victims but the soldiers are shooting at ambulances and journalists.

Rafah currently has no food, goods, and other basic needs because the IDF divided Gaza Strip into five separated areas by military checkpoints.

Now it's hard to find milk and pharmacies for babies and children.

The attack is going on and on, and the streets are empty.

Many parents have been searching for their sons and can't find them.

.............

Later in the day, Israeli sources told press people that the attack on Rafah will be for weeks.

The IDF broke into Rafah Camps, and especially in Yebna camp about 500 meters from the border line. It was a different night.

The soldiers seemed to forget their fingers on their triggers. Shooting continued more than two hours and a half.

More than 7 people were injured. They were among the victims who had left their homes that had been attacked as they were sleeping.

Most of them got out in their sleeping clothes because there was no time. One minute waiting meant that they would get demolished with their houses. It's the same every night like that..

In that attack, about 16 people were injured.

Mohammed Hamdan, a 13 year old, was killed. He was injured with one bullet in his leg, and when he tried to walk the soldiers shot him again.

Three hours later they found him lying dead near his house.

Monir Kasas, 14 years old, was surrounded by tanks and bulldozers as he was holding a white flag to show the soldiers that he wanted to leave the house, but they still shot him and he fell on the ground with his white flag which was mixed with his blood.

The soldiers began shooting using cannons that are normally used to damage huge buldings and houses.

They shot about 8 people who were then transferred to the European Hospital in Gaza. Most of the injured lost some limbs.

A very large number of houses have been demolished by the time the IDF tanks withdrew.

The families went to see their homes, and found most of them demolished with all their furniture and belongings. The families as usual began sleeping in tents, flats and in UNRWA schools…

This crime just came a few hours after a game that Israeli soldiers had been playing — it was an entertainment game when the soldiers began sniping the Tal Al Sultan Primary School.

They shot an 8 year old student and a teacher.

In addition, more than 25 students were transferred to the hospital because of tear gas as a result of that entertainment game.

Israeli soldiers decided to close the school and naturally it is closed now. Even if it opens again the children would prefer not to go when there is shooting directed against them.

Sorry, I have no pictures to attach to this report because my camera was broken in one of the attacks last week.

There are a large number of houses now that have been demolished and it seems the media is no longer interested in what is happening to the homeless families.

More than 20 tanks and 5 bulldozers attacked the Rafah area, in Tal Al Sultan which is close to the beach. Two houses were demolished in that attack: Omer Abu Brika's house (41 years old), and his relative's house which had housed more than 4 families.

Hundreds of acres full of olives and orange trees were also demolished last night, in addition to a very big area of agriculture homes. Ahmed Biriak's home and Farouk Burika in Rafah.



Thoria Birika's home, also in Tal Al Sultan, had more than 60 olives trees demolished from her garden.

In the same attack they demolished half the Sindibad wedding party hall, in addition to demolishing other olives trees belonging to Abu Shalouf family.

Eyewitness said that the bulldozers were shooting towards the UNRWA clinic situated in Tal Al Sultan.

Also in yesterday's attack, the IDF soldiers opened their heavy cannons against civilians people and shot Basam Rosros, a 32 year old, and seriously injured him. Ahmed Khader was also wounded but not seriously.

It was a very sad night full of shelling and shooting everywhere from the tanks and bulldozers. The shelling continued until the morning.

I interview Ahmed Douheir (30 years old), and asked him how his house was demolished. He answered:

"Our house is near the border line. When the IDF began to build the border line in 10/06/2003 a group of Israeli bulldozers, and in less than 20 minutes, they demolished our house which was the only house for me and for my children and my brothers. At the same time they demolished my uncle's house Abdel Karim Douhair. It was three floors. They also demolished my other uncle's house, Abdelhadi Duhair, which was four floors. Now, I've just come back everyday to see the rubble of our house as you see me right now! !!"

I also interviewed others like Shehda Zourb (35 years old), Mohammed Redwan,(40 years old)., Mohammed Al Shaier (42 years old) Eiad Barhoum (32 years old ) and so many others, and they all told me how their homes had been demolished by the IDF.

Nothing changed. Everywhere, just turn your eyes, and you will see demolished houses. Now more than three eyewitness said: "we see the IDF trucks bring new bulldozers, tanks, vehicles, and so many jeeps for Tal Al Sultan areas.."

PCHR is warning that an environmental and humanitarian crisis is lurking in Rafah refugee camp after Rafah municipality has been prevented from repairing the sewage system partly destroyed during an Israeli incursion in April.

The Health and Sewage Unit in the municipality has been trying to repair the system several times since it was damaged but failed to do so due to Israeli soldiers shooting at the workers trying to repair the damages.



The damaged sewage network is located on the border with Egypt, and is transferring the sewage away from Block O where about 5,000 people live, as well as from the areas close to Salah El-Dein Gate, Omar Bin el-Khatab street and Elqasas neighborhood.

The system was damaged during an incursion into the area by Israeli occupation forces at the beginning of April.

According to PCHR's information the system has not been working since then, and the waste water is now flooding the streets and is running towards the houses.

The continual refusal of the Israeli occupation forces to allow the municipality to repair it increases the chances for the outbreak of diseases among the more than 5,000 inhabitants of the areas.

The refusal by the Israeli occupation forces to allow the repairing of the system comes despite of the fact that there is already a co-ordination between the Palestinian Authorities (PNA) and Israel on this matter.

PCHR is deeply concerned about the environmental and health situation in the above-mentioned areas and calls upon the international community, the United Nations' bodies and international agencies to immediately interfere to force Israel to allow Rafah municipality to repair the damages in the system in order to avoid a serious health and environmental crisis.

Also last night there was shelling till this morning from the tanks in Block J..

Well...many, many problems but who will hear?

In Rafah, more than 200 children went with peace flags to the Mawasi checkpoint which is situated on the road from Rafah to the beach.

They asked to open this checkpoint so the people from Rafah can go to the beach, but the soldiers forced them to leave the area with rude words and refused to open the checkpoint.

Still, every day people suffer from shootings and tank movements in Rafah — the sound of it makes the children afraid.

Also, some agricultural plots were demolished.

People in Rafah are still suffering from the electricity problem, as most of the times there is no electricity, and water is the worst problem also, as well as mosquitos and the non-working sewage system.

Yesterday about 12 tanks and 5 bulldozers attacked Rafah, with massive interventions of helicopters. This attack was only for the entertainment of the soldiers ... they didn't demolish houses in an organized way, but randomly destroyed everything which was in their way.

The soldiers shoot everyone in the streets, it did not matter if it was a child, an old man, or woman — they shoot at everything, and demolished all the olives trees that they found in their way.



Shelling, shooting, bombing, demolishing houses, demolishing olive trees, killing children while they are going to school...and in summer blocking the clean water, demolishing the water stations, destroying power lines, and demolishing the sewage stations...

Every day, we hear about new crimes in our neighbors' cities.

In Khan Younis City, last night, many people were injured, many houses demolished and many streets were demolished.

The same things happed in Beit Hanon, the city which is under curfew for more than a month. This city suffers from lack of food, water and many things.

So where is the peace activism? Where are these people who speak all the time about peace?

Yesterday, the IDF demolished 5 more houses in Rafah. In the Tal Zoroob area, they attacked with about 20 tanks and 5 bulldozers.

The IDF damaged the electricity stations and power lines — and when the workers come to fix it, they shoot at them, every night, so electricity is a big problem, as well as water supply.

Many people were injured, many of them children.

There is no day without shooting in Block O, Block J, Hay Al Salam, Al Brasel, the airport, Tal Zoroub, and Tal Al Sultan.

In the past 3 days the attacks and clashes continued. Many people were injured and the tanks continued to attack us — life has become hell in Rafah.

There were attacks at the Block O area, many houses demolished.



The people in Beit Hanoun are under curfew for more than a week, the IDF damaged all the places, many houses, there is no electricity and clean water in the area.

Many people were killed and injured. This area is completely closed, and it’s hard for people to go out and buy food.

The water supply is still very limited, not enough water in many parts of Rafah.

Another attack yesterday in the area of Block O, 10 houses were demolished, and many people were injured.



It was a very bad night, shelling and shooting and many crimes... as they demolished the houses IN THE NIGHT, while people were sleeping, so it was immoral, very bad. People were running out of their houses and children were crying and asking for shelter, and crying ... TANKS!!

And nobody takes care of these homeless people.

As a result of that, today thousands of Palestinians demonstrated against the IDF crimes in Rafah, and against the crimes that the IDF did in the last night against people while they were sleeping and in a time which is called the Road Map time.

The IDF attacked Block J in Rafah and shot 5 people up until this moment.

When the children came back from school, the tanks blocked the road, and they couldn’t go to their homes.

Massive shootings last evening and night ...

While I was going home by taxi, the soldiers shot at us, and the taxi driver was injured. It was a very bad night...

James Miller, a British journalist in Rafah, was killed while he was doing a documentary film in Rafah.



He was waving a white flag, but still he was shot. And the tanks surrounded the internationals, and shot towards them.

Today more than 60 tanks and bulldozers left Rafah camp, after killing 5 people and more than 30 were injured.



Many houses demolished and many cars also crushed, it was a very bad night since yesterday at 10 PM. Most of the people who were injured are women and children.

Yebna, Rafah



Between 4:30 and 5:00 PM today Israeli snipers shot another ISM activist in the head. Tom Hurndall from Manchester, Britain, is currently in critical condition in a helicopter on his way from Europa Hospital in Khan Younis to a hospital in Bir Sheva. He is 22 years old.



Statement from the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) —

Yebna, Rafah

Between 4:30 and 5:00 PM today Israeli snipers shot another ISM activist in the head. Tom Hundall from Manchester Britain is currently in critical condition in a helicopter on his way from Europa Hospital in Khan Younis to a hospital in Bir Sheva. He is 22 years old.

According to Laura, the activists were being shot at while protecting some children from Israeli gunfire. Tom was in plain view of the sniper towers and was wearing a bright orange fluorescent jacket with reflective stripes. The nine ISM activists and many children were in the process of leaving the area. Sniper fire from the tower was hitting the wall close beside the children, who were afraid to move. Tom was attempting to bring them to safety when he was shot. There was no shooting or resistance coming from the Palestinian side at all.

According to Laura, the plan had been to put up a tent where a tank parks itself every night in front of a Mosque. The soldiers in the tank shoot down the street, terrorizing people who come to pray. The group had discovered earlier that the tank was already in place and had begun firing into the air. The Palestinian organizers felt the plan had become unworkeable, and the action was abandoned.

Laura and two Palestinians decided to go assess the situation. She soon realized that the tank had moved from where it had been. It was now possible to set up the tent. She spoke to Tom D by phone and they decided to meet at the roadblock. The Israeli snipers in the eastern tower began shooting in Laura’s path.

When they arrived at the roadblock, the rest of the group was already there. The snipers began firing again: this time at the wall of the building next to the activists. As a result, the group began the process of leaving.

Tom saw a little boy in an open space, clearly visible to the tower. Tom went to get him out of the way. He looked back and saw two more girls whom he also went to retrieve. As he went to get them, he was shot in the back of the head. He fell to the ground in a pool of blood. The ambulance arrived quickly, after about two minutes.

For years the Israeli army has killed Palestinian civilians with impunity. Now they are targeting unarmed international peace activists and human rights workers. On March 16, Rachel Corrie was run over and killed by a bulldozer operator in Rafah while trying to prevent home demolitions. On April 5, in Jenin, Brian Avery was shot in the face by an APC in an unprovoked attack on a clearly unarmed group of internationals. Six months ago in Jenin, Caoimhe Butterly was shot in the leg and UN official Ian Hook was murdered.

We ask the world community to stand up and demand that Israel honor international agreements protecting civilians, whether they are internationals or Palestinians, and hold Israel accountable for these crimes against humanity. And we demand an end to the illegal and brutal occupation that these murders defend.

During the recent IDF attack on Rafah, 5 people were killed and many injured, many more houses were demolished.

Rafah has many problems now, people leave their houses, because the helicopters attacked our camp, as well as tanks and bulldozers.

The hospitals need help since there are many injured people now.

A large explosion in Rafah, and many tanks and bulldozers starting an attack at the Hay Al Salaam area of Rafah, lots of shells exploding.

On Saturday, about 8 tanks and 2 bulldozers attacked Rafah.
Many people were injured, one person was arrested.



This night, more than 10 tanks and 3 bulldozers attacked Hay Al Salaam in Rafah, and many people were injured, 5 houses were demolished, and another 3 houses were partially demolished; 5 people were arrested, and until now there is massive shooting and shelling in Rafah.

The shootings and home demolitions continue.



And the Israelis bring many new bulldozers and tanks to Gaza and Rafah this evening.

More than 10 tanks and 5 bulldozers attacked Rafah camp in Block O.

Today two people were killed, and more than 8 were injured, more than 18 houses were demolished.



A group of international activists from ISM and other people from international organizations like UNRWA tried to stop the Israeli bulldozers, but unfortunately the IDF continued to demolish the houses.

Till this moment there is a massive shooting and bombing in Block J area, and Block O.

The people from Rafah ask the world to stop the IDF and to stop the shootings and house demolitions.

This weekend, the IDF demolished more than 19 houses in Hay Al Salam, and Block (O) in the Rafah camps, although the international peace activists from ISM tried to stop the bulldozers and tanks.

All the homeless families lost all their belongings, and now they don’t have any place to stay any more, while the weather is very chilly...

10 tanks and 4 bulldozers attack the Rafah camps. The IDF demolished another 8 houses in Hay Al Salaam, one of the Rafah camps.



There is massive shooting, people try to rescue some of their demolished furniture, but unfortunately the Israeli tanks shoot towards them.

The owners of the demolished houses ask the world to tell the IDF to stop demolishing houses without any reason.

I asked an old women what happened exactly, she answered:

"I don't know what I have to say to you, I lived in this house with my five sons and I didn’t do anything against the Israeli, so why they demolished our houses, I don’t know!!!"

Israeli Occupation Army destroy two essential water wells in Rafah. Now there is not enough water any more in the Rafah camp.


The only source of water these days

On the evening of Wednesday, 29 January, during an invasion of Rafah, the Israeli Occupation Army destroyed two water wells that are the main source of water for the town. The force which was comprised of Tanks flanked by armored bulldozers destroyed at least 8 homes making 60 defenseless civilians homeless. The 2 water wells were the sole source of water for the 130’000 residents of Rafah.

The two wells along with their attached pumping stations, electrical systems and water pipelines were completely leveled to the ground.

So until the wells are restored 130,000 people will be virtually denied their basic human right to water, this is an alarming precursor to a large scale health crisis.

Also, the IDF completely demolished 3 more houses in the Rafah camp, and 18 houses were partially demolished.

The Palestinian authorities estimate that there were more than 50 houses demolished in Rafah camp in the last 3 days.

The IDF demolished 6 houses in the Tal Al-Sultan area, there are more than 10 tanks, and 3 bulldozers ...

15 people are injured...

Now they are trying to demolish a large building, built by the Canadian government, the "Orphan City" ... this building houses all the orphans (children who have no parents or relatives).

Also, they demolished many olives trees…

I estimate that more than twenty tanks and bulldozers attack Rafah camp, they demolished more than 12 houses and they still demolish other houses, and more than seven people are injured, three of them are children…



In the Rafah camp, there is now a very dangerous situation, as the Israelis shoot towards ISM groups, and other international volunteers… Now, the weather is very cold and chilly and the people leave their houses because of the massive shooting…