Stop the slaughter in Gaza ~ Window Into Palestine

Dear Prime Minister Harper

Here is some true information about Gaza which is being ignored by the North American media. It was Israel who broke the Gaza truce. Hammas also offered to extend the truce. Israel refused. Israel has now salughtered over 230 Palestinians and injured hundreds more. The Immigration and Refugee Board and Citizenship and Immigration Canada is now starting to recognize the persecution of Palestinians by the Israelis. My own record for Palestinian refugee claims against Gaza and the West Bank is 28 positives to 1 negative or a 96% success rate. Citizenship and Immigration Canada has also accepted four of my Pre-Removal Risk Assessments applications for Palestinians from Gaza. The overall sucess raste for PRRA's is less than 3%. Please see the truth and do not turn a blind eye to persecution and injustice.

There is much distortion in the information about Gaza. I am indebted to Karin Brothers for the below summary which is a much more accutrate versiion of the truth.

Recent headlines 1) blame Hamas for the breakdown of the truce and its refusal to renew it and 2) claim that "tensions are rising" with the home made Hamas rockets (that haven't killed one Israeli in this ceasefire!) and 3) seem to justify the Israeli line that it is "losing patience" with Hamas their supposed right to eliminate it.

Reality check: A brief sampler on the Gaza truce:

June 19, 2008: Hamas and Israel agree to six month truce ...

Nov. 2: Israeli forces kill 4 Gazans in missile strike and incursion, blocking ambulances from wounded

Nov. 4 2008: Israel carries out various incursions in Gaza supported by missile strikes, killing one and wounding three, plus razing land; Israeli forces also kill six and wound five Hamas members, breaking "truce";

Nov. 5: Israel illegally and criminally seals off Gaza's exits and entrances, including from humanitarian food and medical aid needed by 750,000 malnourished [This is a war crime/crime against humanity under international law]

Nov. 14: Israeli air strike injures 2

Nov. 15th Hamas sends 16 rockets, sending 18 Israelis to hospital with "shock and mild injuries."

Nov. 16: Israeli forces kill 4

Nov. 17th Israeli attack wounds 2

Nov. 18th Israeli tanks and armoured bulldozer incursion into Gaza, plus mock air raids over Gaza

Israel kills a Palestinian patient who refuses medical extortion

Nov. 28: Israeli incursion harrasses Gazans

Nov. 30th Israeli incursion levels area of Gaza Strip

{continuing crisis with almost no access to drinkable water, shortage of bread, humanitarian aid, journalists and UN blocked from entry, etc. Sick refused medical help)

Dec. 18th Air strikes in Gaza kill Gaza civilian, activist wounded

Dec. 20:Israeli attack kills resistor

Israel is announcing that is considers it has the right to eliminate Hamas and is clearly testing the waters with this pre-announcement of a major invasion. People should be up in arms about these Israeli announcements, which could stop such an invasion. I believe that your coverage, making Hamas appear guilty of its modest efforts to defend itself , lends support to Israel and makes your paper guilty of complicity in any attack on Gaza..

Karin Brothers

Edward C. Corrigan
Barrister & Solicitor
Associate Editor ImmQuest
Associate Editor Immigration Law Reporter
Certified as a Specialist by the Law Society of Upper Canada
Citizenship and Immigration Law and Immigration/Refugee Protection Law
383 Richmond St. Suite 902
London, Ontario, Canada
N6A 3C4

Tel: (519) 439-4015
Fax: (519) 439-7657
Toll Free 1-800-883-6217
email: corriganlaw@edcorrigan.ca
web site: www.edcorrigan.ca

Here is a report from a reliable NGO based in Gaza.

http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/W_report/English/2008/24-12-2008.htm

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) amidst a Humanitarian Crisis in the Gaza Strip Due to the Closure

A member of the Palestinian resistance was killed by IOF and a Palestinian civilian died from a previous wound in the Gaza Strip.
10 Palestinians, including 3 children and a journalist, and an Israeli journalist were wounded by the IOF gunfire in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
IOF attacked 2 Palestinian ambulances in Ne'lin village, west of Ramallah.
IOF conducted 25 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
IOF arrested 18 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children.
IOF stormed a medical center in Hebron.
IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and have isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
IOF have continued to take measures aiming at the Judaization of Jerusalem.
IOF confiscated for the fifth time a tent belonging to the al-Kurd family whose house had been seized.
IOF ordered Bedouins living to the south of Jerusalem to leave their area of residence.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law escalated in the OPT during the reporting period (18 – 23 December 2008):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed a member of the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip and wounded 10 Palestinians, including 3 children and a journalist, and an Israeli journalist. A Palestinian civilian also died from a wound he had sustained by IOF in the Gaza Strip.

In the Gaza Strip, on 20 December 2008, IOF killed a member of the Palestinian resistance. IOF fired a surface-to-surface missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance who were launching home-made rockets at Israeli towns. Earlier, a Palestinian farmer was wounded by shrapnel in similar circumstances.

On 18 December 2008, IOF fired a surface-to-surface missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance who were launching home-made rockets at Israeli towns. An activist was seriously wounded.

On 21 December 2008, a Palestinian toddler was wounded when IOF aircrafts fired 2 missiles at al-Shoja'eya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. The toddler was wounded when she was at home.

On Saturday morning, 20 December 2008, a Palestinian civilian from Khan Yunis died from a wound he had sustained by IOF in 2003.

On 18 December 2008, IOF aircrafts attacked a car maintenance workshop in Khan Yunis town in the southern Gaza Strip. The workshop was destroyed an a number of nearby houses were damaged.

In the West Bank, on 21 December 2008, a Palestinian workers was wounded when IOF fired at a number of workers who were on their way to their work places in Israel.

During the reporting period, 6 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children and a journalist, and an Israeli journalist were wounded when IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall west of Ramallah. In the same context, IOF fired tear gas canisters at 2 Palestinian ambulances in Ne'lin village, west of Ramallah. Five medical personnel suffered from tear gas inhalation and one of the ambulances was damaged.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 25 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, IOF arrested 18 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children. Thus, the number of Palestinian civilians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of 2008 has mounted to 2,329. On 21 December 2008, IOF stormed and damaged a medical center in Hebron.

Restrictions on Movement: IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

Gaza Strip

IOF have continued to close all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more than two years. The IOF siege of Gaza, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.

· The Gaza Power plant completely stopped operation due to the lack of energy fuel. Over the past three weeks, IOF have allowed only 1,721,610 liters of energy fuel into the Gaza Strip, an amount which can operate the power plant for only 5 days.

· The main concern of 1.5 million people living in the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.

· The majority of the civilian population lack access to drinking water.

· Electricity is cut off for 100,000s of civilians from 8-12 hours daily, which has impacted at least 500,000 students or various stages of education who are currently having exams./

· The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) was forced to suspend it humanitarian aids program for at least 750,000 Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip for 5 days.

· Thousands of Palestinian civilians have been forced to wait in long queues to buy bread.

· The Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened for a few days for a number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return home to the Gaza Strip.

· IOF have continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the face of Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social visits.

· IOF have imposed additional restrictions on access of international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers to the Gaza Strip. They have prevented representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from entering the Gaza Strip.

· IOF have decreased the number of patients allowed to travel through Erez crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in the West Bank and Israel to an average of 17 patients daily, which marks a decrease by 15% in comparison with the first quarter of 2008.

· Health conditions in the Gaza Strip have deteriorated and all medical facilities have been impacted as scores of medical sets are operated by electricity. Dozens medicines have been lacking.

· The lives of newly born babies, whose development has not been completed, is endangered as they need medical equipments in neonatal units that are operated by electricity.

· Living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated; levels of poverty and unemployment have sharply mounted.

· At least 900 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have been deprived for family visitation for more than 16 months.

West Bank

IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.

· IOF have established checkpoints in and around Jerusalem, severely restricting Palestinian access to the city. Civilians are frequently prevented from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

· There are approximately permanent 630 roadblocks, manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank. In addition, there are some 60-80 ‘flying’ or temporary checkpoints erected across the West Bank by IOF every week.

· When complete, the illegal Annexation Wall will stretch for 724 kilometers around the West Bank, further isolating the entire population. 350 kilometers of the Wall has already been constructed. Approximately 99% of the Wall has been constructed inside the West Bank itself, further confiscating Palestinian land.

· At least 65% of the main roads that leads to 18 Palestinian communities in the West Bank are closed or fully controlled by IOF (47 out of 72 roads).

· There are around 500 kilometers of restricted roads across the West Bank. In addition, approximately one third of the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, is inaccessible to Palestinians without a permit issued by the IOF. These permits are extremely difficult to obtain.

· IOF continue to harass, and assault demonstrators who hold peaceful protests against the construction of the Annexation Wall.

· Palestinian civilians continue to be harassed by IOF in Jerusalem, and across the West Bank, including being regularly stopped and searched in the streets by IOF.

Judaization of Jerusalem: IOF have escalated arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem to force them to leave the city. During the reporting period, IOF stormed and confiscated for the fifth time a tent set up by the al-Kurd family in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem. It is worth noting that IOF seized Fawzia al-Kurd's house on 9 November 2008 and expelled the family from it. Since that date, Fawzia al-Kurd has lived in a tent set up near the house. During the reporting period, IOF handed a written notice to Ahmed 'Abdul Rahim al-Balbissi, informing him that a 78-square-meter structure he built in May 2008 would be demolished. IOF and Israeli police also stormed Bedouin communities to the south of Jerusalem. The Organization Officer of the IOF Civil Administration handed military order to dozens of Bedouins living 3 communities in the area according to which they must evacuate the area.

Additionally, IOF have continued preparations to establish a railway network in Jerusalem. The IOF municipality of Jerusalem started this project in 2006. This network aims at linking Israeli settlements located to the northeast of Jerusalem with West Jerusalem. Works at the project has caused disruption of traffic in Palestinian areas in the north of Jerusalem.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (18 – 23 December 2008)

1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip

Thursday, 18 December 2008

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beita village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1. Mahdi Khalil Hamayel, 26; and

2. Benjamin 'Abdul Jail Dwaikat, 30.

· At approximately 01:10, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a 210-square-meter car maintenance workshop belonging to Eyad Fat'hi al-Jbrour in Jourat al-Lout area in Khan Yunis. The workshop was completely destroyed and 7 houses and 3 cars in the area were damaged. No casualties were reported.

· At approximately 19:35, IOF troops positioned in a military post to the east of Gaza City fired a surface-to-surface missile at a number of activists of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) who were launching home-made rockets at Israeli towns from Zimmu Street in the east of Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip. An activist was seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body.

Friday, 19 December 2008

· At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:45, IOF moved into 'Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, and arrested Jawad 'Abdul 'Afu 'Abdul 'Aziz, 40.

Saturday, 20 December 2008

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-'Araqa village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beer al-Basha village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into 'Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Fahma village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Kufor Ra'ei village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Ya'bad village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 05:00, medical sources in Khan Yunis declared that Mohammed 'Aqeel Salah Abu Shammala, 28, from al-Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis, died from a wound he had sustained in 2003. According to PCHR's documentation, at approximately 22:45 on Monday, 20 October 2008, an IOF helicopter gunship launched a missile at a civilian car (white Peugeot) as it stopped at traffic lights on al-Jalaa’ Street in the center of Gaza City. The missile hit the front of the car, instantly killing 2 members of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas): Khaled Ghazi al-Masri, 23, from al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza City; and Eyad Fa’eq al-Hilu, 22, from Gaza City. Shrapnel from the missile hit another civilian car that had stopped next to the targeted car, killing its driver, later identified as Marwan ‘Abdul Karim al-Khatib, 35, from Gaza City. In addition, 9 passing civilians were wounded, including Abu Shammala, who was seriously wounded by shrapnel to the spinal column. He suffered from complete paralysis. He received medical treatment at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City and at a German Hospital. His health condition did not improve and he eventually died of his wound.

· At approximately 07:30, Zuhair Hafez Rawshi Agha, from Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip, was seriously wounded to the right leg, when he and other civilians were collecting woods from a tract of land belonging to Abu Hani Hassanain in the east of Gaza City. IOF attacked a rocket launcher in the area, adjacent to those civilians who were collecting woods.

· At approximately 08:45, IOF fired a surface-to-surface missile at a number of activists of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (an armed wing of Fatah movement), who were launching home-made rockets from agricultural area in the north of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip. An activist, 25-year-old 'Ali 'Olayan Hijazi, was killed.

Sunday, 21 December 2008

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beer al-Basha village, south of Jenin. They raided the site of a transmission tower of Jawwal (the Palestinian mobile company). They questioned a worker, Mohammed Yousef Daqqa. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Sahour town. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1. Sa'id 'Awadh Shu'aibat, 22; and

2. Nizar Ramdan, 40, 40.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Artas village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Khalil Abu Swai, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 04:00, IOF stormed al-Karantina medical center in the old town of Hebron. They broke doors and searched and damaged the center.

· At approximately 06:00, IOF troops in a military jeep in Arab al-Ramdin area, south of Hebron, fired at a number of Palestinian workers who were on their way to their work places in Israel. As a result, 'Aamer Yousef al-Masri, 22, from al-Duhaisha refugee camp southwest of Bethlehem, was wounded by a gunshot to the shoulder.

· At approximately 06:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled in the south and east of the town. They withdrew from the town later and no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 12:00, IOF moved into al-Masyoun area in the south of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of shops, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 18:30, IOF moved into al-Khader village, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mahmoud Mohammed Salah, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 22:10, an IOF aircraft fired 2 missile at al-Nazzaz Street in al-Shoja'eya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. As a result, 2-year-old Hadeel Ussama Habeeb, was wounded by shrapnel to the nose when she was at home.

Monday, 22 December 2008

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children:

1. Majed Khalil Abu Thiraa', 17;

2. Anas No'man Mashayekh, 17;

3. Samer al-Teerawi, 20;

4. Muntasser Fat'hi al-Jabi, 25;

5. Fadi Mohammed Shiqqu, 22; and

6. Eyad Abu Salhiya.

IOF troops damaged Mashayekh's house. They removed the flagstones of his room and made a hole in the ground, allegedly to search for weapons.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Zeita village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including 2 brothers:

1. Kifah Yousef Abu al-'Izz, 18;

2. Nasser Tayseer Abu al-'Izz, 22; and

3. Mohammed Tayseer Abu al-'Izz, 30.

· At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and summoned 'Obaida 'Ata al-Qasrawi for interrogation.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and summoned 'Abdul Karim al-Rajoub for interrogation.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Ne'lin village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1. Sa'id Ibrahim 'Amira, 17;

2. Mohammed Daoud al-Khawaja, 17; and

3. Mohammed 'Abdullah 'Amira, 30.

Tuesday, 23 December 2008

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into al-Burj village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and the building of the local council. They confiscated some documents and stickers from the building of the local council.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Samer Mohammed Nazzal, 23.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Madama village, south of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

2. Continued Siege on the OPT

IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Occupied East Jerusalem.

Gaza Strip

IOF have continued to impose a siege on the 1.5 million civilians of the Gaza Strip. The border crossings of the Strip have been closed for more than two years as part of IOF’s collective punishment policy, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of civilians and goods. As a result, the territory is unable to secure its basic needs of food, medicine, and other supplies, pushing the poverty rate above 80%.

The continued Israeli ban on fuel supplies required for civilian life in the Gaza Strip has led to the paralysis of the educational sector. Healthcare facilities have registered a drop in clients due to the transport crisis, and hundreds of healthcare professionals have been unable to reach their work places.

The tightened siege has led to the collapse of the Gaza Strip economic sectors. Most production facilities have ceased to operate due to the siege and restriction on movement of goods and individuals.

With regard to Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border, the Egyptian authorities started to open it limitedly for some patients.

IOF allow a very limited number of seriously ill patients and staff of international organizations to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing. IOF have also prevented families of at least 900 Palestinians detained in Israeli jails from visiting them since 6 June 2007. Additionally, IOF have imposed severe restrictions on access of internationals to the Gaza Strip.

The closure of border crossings deprives the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their right to freedom of movement, education and health. IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. Following the attack on IOF on 25 June 2006, IOF prevented fishing. Approximately 35,000 people in and around Gaza’s coastal communities rely on the fishing industry, including 2,500 fishermen, 2,500 support staff and their families. Fishermen have been subjected to intensive monitoring by IOF, which use helicopter gunships and gunboats to monitor the fishermen. The Oslo Accords allow Palestinian fishermen to go fishing up to 20 nautical miles away from the Gaza seashore.

Impacts of Tightening the Siege Imposed on the Gaza Strip over the Past Two Months