GAZA - april 2004
Text and pictures
from A.A.
13th swiss civile mission









Eretz, entry to Gaza Strip: before 2nd intifada, tens of thousands Palestinians crossed every day that border to go to work in Israel.





« The situation is extremely difficult. Two years ago in Rafah, South of the refugee camp the army had already destroyed 70 meters of houses along the cement wall that delimited the border with Egypt. Only because israeli army decided arbitrarily that there must be a security zone which can vary from 50 to 300 meters width, at its own goodwill.
At the place where there were houses in 2002,
now there is a second wall, an iron wall, and the israeli army demolished houses further 70 meters from that new iron wall, to widen more and more the so-called security zone. »







Since the beginning of intifada, israeli government destroyed more than 5'000 houses in Gaza Strip, generating 38'215 homeless persons among which 19'372 children; in Rafah alone 2'200 houses were destroyed (15'622 homeless persons, 7'839 children).




Rafah, refugee camp: a child flying a kite...



AbuHouli checkpoint: the israeli soldiers have total control on Palestinian transit inside Gaza strip. Sometimes the checkpoint is closed for days, forcing Palestinians to sleep in their cars. Sometimes the trafficlight is lit green and red at the same time and if anyone dares to pass the soldiers shoot at him
.


To pass the checkpoint each car has to count 2 passengers minimum. Many children go back and forth through that checkpoint to allow single drivers to pass, in exchange they ask for small money.
A child was asked what he thought of the current situation, he said: "I'm praying every day for the situation not to change!" The economy is so desastrous (
more than 60% live below poverty level), that this small mone earned by the children at the checkpoints has become vital to their families…


KhanYunis, Tuffah checkpoint.

KhanYunis,Tuffah checkpoint, entry of el-Mawasi - very strict rules are applied:
- only residents are authorized
- they can enter only by day at fixed hours
- only by foot and by groups of 5 persons
- ambulances are not allowed (sick people and dead corpses have to be evacuated by foot...)
Furthermore the inhabitants of el-Mawasi (and other "yellow zones") are subject to
discriminatory and humiliating treatments (body search at each passage, insults, etc).


KhanYunis: humiliating body search at Tuffah checkpoint


« There are no words to describe the suffering of people who still have the courage to stay in their house despite the unceasing shootings, especially at night, from israeli army. There is no words to tell all the indignation and anger I felt witnessing this arrogance, the constant violation of all elementary human rights, this warlike and inhuman violence and above all, what a whole people has to endure just to "secure" israeli presence in the region »




« Where will all these people go?
In Rafah refugee camp that israeli army is currently devastating, 92'000 inhabitants living on a few square kilometers. In Khan Yunis refugee camp there live 62'000 persons on 2 square kilometers, in Jabalyia, close to the city of Gaza, 120'000 inhabitants on 2 km, it's awful. In the Gaza strip there are 8 refugee camps and their
density of population is one of the highest in the world. »



KhanYunis: the entry of the refugee camp...




Eretz: the exit...
 
texts and pictures: A.A.   April 2004