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GAZA, (PIC)-- Israel opened Monday the floodgates of one of its dams in Gaza valley in the eastern part of the Gaza Strip in the aftermath of torrential rains in the region which seriously flooded Palestinian houses and caused severe material damage.
Eyewitnesses told the Palestinian information center (PIC) that the Israel occupation forces stationed there intentionally opened the floodgates without any prior warning or coordination with local authorities in Gaza which led to the influx of large amounts of rainwater into the valley.Because Gaza is located in a low-lying area and the elevation decreases on the way to the Mediterranean sea, water gushed down into the area, flooding two Palestinian villages and displacing about a hundred Gazan families.
A number of people are still trapped inside or on their rooftops, while many have also gone missing, according to eyewitnesses.
Surging waters from the dam flooded houses in Johr Al-Deek village, southeast of Gaza city, Nusseirat village in the eastern part of the Strip, where Al-Nusseirat refugee camp is also located, and Al-Mughraqa town located within Gaza city.
The flooding has made life more difficult for citizens, especially for those still living in tents because their homes were destroyed in the last Israeli war on Gaza.
For his part, Yousuf Abu Hoaishal, the head of the municipal council of Mughraqa town, told the PIC on Monday evening that 50 homes at least were flooded after water levels dramatically rose in Gaza valley.
Abu Hoaishal added that the municipal and civil defense crews were working industriously on rescuing and evacuating citizens from the flooded areas.
The council head held Israel responsible for causing this flood with the intention to inflict mass destruction in Gaza areas.
He pointed out that the disaster could have been bigger if this flood had happened at night while citizens were asleep, affirming that the rapid intervention of rescue teams prevented casualties.
For his part, spokesman for the military medical services Adham Abu Salima said yesterday that 100 families whose homes were flooded were transferred to safe areas until providing them with emergency shelters.
Later, different Palestinian officials in Gaza have stated that the flood disaster was successfully managed and controlled, and all homeless citizens were provided with shelters.
In the same context, Dr. Ahmed Bahar, the first deputy speaker of the Palestinian legislative council, strongly denounced Israel for deliberately causing a flood in Gaza valley which rendered many citizens homeless.
Dr. Bahar condemned this behavior as a new war crime, calling on the international community to assume its responsibilities and hold Israel accountable for what happened.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri accused Israel of intentionally opening the dam’s floodgates in order to inflict damage on citizens and their property.
Spokesman Abu Zuhri appealed, in a press statement to the PIC, to international relief organizations to provide instant help to the citizens who suffered considerable damage in their homes.
Minister of agriculture Dr. Mohamed Al-Agha visited yesterday evening the affected areas in the vicinity of Gaza valley and affirmed that Israel did not give any warning about its intention to open the dam’s floodgates.
Dr. Agha warned that the continuing flow of water from the dam into the valley means that the lives of many citizens are still in danger, noting that the flood swept many homes, agricultural lands and livestock pens.
He said that Israel always look for any opportunity to double the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza.
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