topic by
John Calvin
5/24/2002 (19:58) |
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Israeli forces demolish homes
in Gaza in violation of supreme court order
Gaza, May, 24, 2002, Wafa - Israeli occupation forces demolished three houses in the al-Mughraqa area near Gaza city yesterday evening in violation of an earlier decision by the Israeli Supreme Court requiring Israeli forces to inform owners of their intention to demolish houses in order to give them opportunity for appeal.
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, PCHR, is deeply concerned by these demolitions, which violate Israeli Supreme Court decisions issued on 19 March ordering the army not to demolish these particular houses, in addition to other houses in the al-Mughraqa, Abu al-'Ajin, and al-Matahen areas in the Gaza strip. The Supreme Court has also instructed the Israeli state prosecutor's office to inform owners of houses about the army's intention to demolish houses in order to grant the owners a period of 48 hours for appeal.
Yesterday evening, PCHR sent a complaint to the Israeli Supreme Court regarding the above mentioned demolitions, asking the Court to once again consider the legality of the ongoing demolitions. PCHR appealed to the court on behalf of 41 Palestinian citizens who own houses in the al-Mughraqa, Abu al-‘Ajin, and al-Matahen areas. This morning, the Court issued a decision to temporarily stop the demolitions. Later today, the court will consider the request made by PCHR and reach a final decision.
The three houses already demolished were owned by Fayez al-Khorti, Rafeeq Mutawea', and Suheil al-Wihidi.
In a similar case, the Israeli Supreme Court on 19 May issued a decision to stop the demolition of the al-Ghussain factory, the only producer of oxygen for medical purposes in the Gaza strip. The decision came in response to an appeal by PCHR on 21 April on behalf of the owners of the factory to the Israeli military legal adviser. Despite the court order, and despite the fact that the Israeli military commander failed to respond to the appeal submitted by PCHR, Israeli occupation forces continued demolition activities, destroying parts of the factory.
PCHR is deeply concerned about the ongoing demolition activities committed by Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian houses and properties, as the recent demolitions in al-Mughraqa demonstrate that the previous rulings of the Israeli Supreme Court did not constitute sufficient legal protection for Palestinian civilians and their properties.
Israeli occupation forces have demolished approximately 560 houses in the Gaza strip during the al-Aqssa Intifada, rendering thousands of Palestinian civilians homeless. The widespread and destruction of property not justified by military necessity is a war crime under the Forth Geneva Convention.
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