High Court Decision on Rafah Demolitions
The Rule of Law Ends at the Border
This morning’s ruling of Israel’s High Court of Justice allows the IDF to continue its mass house demolitions in Rafah, and gives the IDF full discretion as to when to allow a court hearing prior to demolition.
In issuing this ruling, the Court has shirked its obligation to balance security considerations with the rights of Palestinian civilians who are not involved in the hostilities.
When addressing events in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the Court consistently disregards its obligations regarding human rights and international law, and uncritically adopts the position of the security establishment. Since the beginning of the Intifada, the IDF has demolished some 1,800 homes in the Rafah Refugee Camp.
Since the beginning of 2004 alone, 284 homes have been demolished in Rafah, leaving 2,185 Palestinians homeless. House demolition on such a massive scale cannot be justified as “urgent military need.”
B’Tselem calls on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to immediately cancel the plans for further demolitions, discussed by Chief of Staff Moshe Ya’alon in this morning’s cabinet meeting. In addition, the organization calls on the Israeli government to compensate families who lost their homes and to provide them with alternative housing.
Investigation of the IDF Action in Rafah http://www.btselem.org/English/Press_Releases/2004/040515.asp
Background on Israel’s demolitions in the Gaza Strip http://www.btselem.org/English/Houses_and_Fields_Destruction/Index.asp
The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories http://www.btselem.org
Please also see:
UNRWA: Alarm at Planned Demolitions
http://www.un.org/unrwa/news/releases/pr-2004/hqg-1004.pdf
Israel 'to step up demolitions'
Scores of Palestinian homes have been reduced to rubble
The Israeli army has said it plans to destroy hundreds more homes in the Gaza Strip, after Israel's Supreme Court said demolitions could go ahead.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3718529.stm
Stop The Destruction
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/427788.html
Over 150,000 attend rally calling for Gaza withdrawal
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/427546.html
Alert: Unprecedented level of punitive house demolitions - Large scale Israeli destruction of Palestinian refugee homes
http://www.palestinemonitor.org
The Rule of Law Ends at the Border
This morning’s ruling of Israel’s High Court of Justice allows the IDF to continue its mass house demolitions in Rafah, and gives the IDF full discretion as to when to allow a court hearing prior to demolition.
In issuing this ruling, the Court has shirked its obligation to balance security considerations with the rights of Palestinian civilians who are not involved in the hostilities.
When addressing events in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the Court consistently disregards its obligations regarding human rights and international law, and uncritically adopts the position of the security establishment. Since the beginning of the Intifada, the IDF has demolished some 1,800 homes in the Rafah Refugee Camp.
Since the beginning of 2004 alone, 284 homes have been demolished in Rafah, leaving 2,185 Palestinians homeless. House demolition on such a massive scale cannot be justified as “urgent military need.”
B’Tselem calls on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to immediately cancel the plans for further demolitions, discussed by Chief of Staff Moshe Ya’alon in this morning’s cabinet meeting. In addition, the organization calls on the Israeli government to compensate families who lost their homes and to provide them with alternative housing.
Investigation of the IDF Action in Rafah http://www.btselem.org/English/Press_Releases/2004/040515.asp
Background on Israel’s demolitions in the Gaza Strip http://www.btselem.org/English/Houses_and_Fields_Destruction/Index.asp
The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories http://www.btselem.org
Please also see:
UNRWA: Alarm at Planned Demolitions
http://www.un.org/unrwa/news/releases/pr-2004/hqg-1004.pdf
Israel 'to step up demolitions'
Scores of Palestinian homes have been reduced to rubble
The Israeli army has said it plans to destroy hundreds more homes in the Gaza Strip, after Israel's Supreme Court said demolitions could go ahead.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3718529.stm
Stop The Destruction
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/427788.html
Over 150,000 attend rally calling for Gaza withdrawal
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/427546.html
Alert: Unprecedented level of punitive house demolitions - Large scale Israeli destruction of Palestinian refugee homes
http://www.palestinemonitor.org