OccupationalHazard.org 05.22.04

The Occupation - 05/22/04

Army Claims One Tunnel Uncovered in Rafah

Ghassan Andoni - IMEMC & agencies

After 4 days of intensive military operations in Rafah in which around 50 residents were killed and around 80 buildings destroyed, the army claimed to have uncovered one tunnel used for arms smuggling. Local source in Rafah denied the army report, saying that if it was true, the army would have invited reporters to see the uncovered tunnel. Israeli Army Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon told Friday Israeli TV Channel One that one tunnel was uncovered in Rafah and that the army expects that more tunnels will be found.
Ya'alon complained that the Egyptians were not doing enough on their side to prevent weapons from being smuggled into Gaza.
"We talk and cooperate with Egyptians, but their activities as a matter of fact are not satisfactory," he said.
Few political analysts believe that one of the uncovered main objectives of the Operation Rainbow was to pressure Egypt to assume security responsibilities at its border with the Gaza Strip. Egypt said earlier that it would not be able to do so unless the Camp David Peace Accord with Israel is modified to allow for more Egyptian troops to be deployed.
Earlier Friday, the army asserted that Operation Rainbow in Rafah was ongoing, describing the army pullout from the city's refugee camp as mere redeployment.
Most of the troops operating in the Tel AlSultan and Salam neighborhoods pulled out and redeployed around the city.
The Israeli human rights group B'Tselem said Friday evening that the army demolished 62 homes in the past 48 hours, leaving 700 Palestinians homeless.
Army commander in Gaza General Shmuel Zakai, denied Friday that he received orders to pullout of Rafah, calling the pullout an operation requirement needed to renew forces and allow local residents to receive medicine and food supplies.
Earlier on Friday, the army denied preventing food supplies and medicine from reaching the residents of Rafah's refugee camp.
Zakai claimed that the massive destruction caused to the city's infrastructure was necessary to avoid casualties among soldiers. Zaki apologized for the shelling of peaceful demonstrators, claiming that the missile that exploded among them was not directed at them. Eleven people, mostly school children, were killed and 60 more wounded as army fired missiles and tank shells at a crowd of 3000 residents who marched peacefully towards Tel AlSultan neighborhood in an attempt to deliver food and medicine to the residents.
This tragic incident, which took place as the UN Security Council was meeting, forced the United States to abstain from a vote, allowing the passage of a resolution that condemned Israel.

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Army Claims One Tunnel Uncovered in Rafah
Ghassan Andoni - IMEMC & agencies





After 4 days of intensive military operations in Rafah in which around 50 residents were killed and around 80 buildings destroyed, the army claimed to have uncovered one tunnel used for arms smuggling. Local source in Rafah denied the army report, saying that if it was true, the army would have invited reporters to see the uncovered tunnel. Israeli Army Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon told Friday Israeli TV Channel One that one tunnel was uncovered in Rafah and that the army expects that more tunnels will be found. Ya'alon complained that the Egyptians were not doing enough on their side to prevent weapons from being smuggled into Gaza. "We talk and cooperate with Egyptians, but their activities as a matter of fact are not satisfactory," he said. Few political analysts believe that one of the uncovered main objectives of the Operation Rainbow was to pressure Egypt to assume security responsibilities at its border with the Gaza Strip. Egypt said earlier that it would not be able to do so unless the Camp David Peace Accord with Israel is modified to allow for more Egyptian troops to be deployed. Earlier Friday, the army asserted that Operation Rainbow in Rafah was ongoing, describing the army pullout from the city's refugee camp as mere redeployment. Most of the troops operating in the Tel AlSultan and Salam neighborhoods pulled out and redeployed around the city. The Israeli human rights group B'Tselem said Friday evening that the army demolished 62 homes in the past 48 hours, leaving 700 Palestinians homeless. Army commander in Gaza General Shmuel Zakai, denied Friday that he received orders to pullout of Rafah, calling the pullout an operation requirement needed to renew forces and allow local residents to receive medicine and food supplies. Earlier on Friday, the army denied preventing food supplies and medicine from reaching the residents of Rafah's refugee camp. Zakai claimed that the massive destruction caused to the city's infrastructure was necessary to avoid casualties among soldiers. Zaki apologized for the shelling of peaceful demonstrators, claiming that the missile that exploded among them was not directed at them. Eleven people, mostly school children, were killed and 60 more wounded as army fired missiles and tank shells at a crowd of 3000 residents who marched peacefully towards Tel AlSultan neighborhood in an attempt to deliver food and medicine to the residents. This tragic incident, which took place as the UN Security Council was meeting, forced the United States to abstain from a vote, allowing the passage of a resolution that condemned Israel.
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