Photostory: Home demolitions in Rafah
(part 1 of 2)
Darren Ell, writing from Montreal,
Canada
19 December 2002
The following photo reportage on the
destruction of homes in the Block O and Block J neighborhoods
of Rafah was made by Canadian photographer Darren Ell in
November 2002. Read his 5 December 2002 account,
The background music in Rafah on this website. Permission
for the use of the photographs can be obtained by
contacting the
photographer.
1. The Israeli army has
destroyed over 350 homes and damaged 500 in the Rafah
neighborhoods of occupied Gaza, along the Egyptian border.
This work is being done to make way for a gigantic steel
wall on which Israel began construction in October 2002.
Seen through the demolished home of a Block O resident, an
Israeli crane sinks sections of the wall into the earth.
2. Seen from the bedroom
window of a Block O resident, an Israeli bulldozer,
protected by Israeli tanks, clears land in Block O.
3. A Palestinian
grandmother and her family stand in their former home
watching the bulldozers work.
4. Grandmother weeping at
the loss of her home. Daily, residents of Block O stand
helplessly watching their homes be destroyed by armored
bulldozers flanked by Israeli tanks. Human rights groups
in Palestine and Israel condemn the demolitions as serious
violations of humanitarian law. Destruction of property in
occupied territories is forbidden under article 53 of the
Fourth Geneva Convention.
5. Looking west towards
Block J and the sea. Hundreds of homes once stood here.
6. Salah al-Din Gate. "The
Gate of Death" as it is called by residents of Rafah, is
the scene of nightly battles between IDF tanks and
Palestinian fighters. The street, its businesses and homes
lay in ruins.
7. Interior of a
bullet-ridden home near the wall. As of November 2002, the
city of Rafah has suffered more death and injury per
capita than any city in Palestine during the Al-Aqsa
Intifada: 205 dead, 2450 injuries and over 800 life-saving
operations.
8. Asmaa' al-Masri, 31
years of age, mother of 4, was critically wounded by
shrapnel to the leg, abdomen and chest from an Israeli
attack on her home in Block J on 13 November 2002. Her
2-year-old son, Hamed Asad Hassan al-Masri, was killed by
a live bullet to the chest. That evening, Israeli
occupation forces began shelling Block J in Rafah refugee
camp, forcing the family to flee their home. As they left
the house, Hamed was hit by a bullet fired by the
occupation forces.
The Electronic Intifada
needs your ongoing help to offer information about the
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict from a Palestinian
perspective. Please support our important work
now.
The Other Israel is a collection of writing by
Israelis who oppose Ariel Sharon's failed policies and
Israel's occupation, edited by The Nation's Roane Carey,
and Jonathan Shainin: Click here to buy the book on Amazon.com.
TRANSLATEei
WITH
EI HOME
Where our most important content is featured.
WHAT'S
NEW ON EI?
Chronological, searchable list of content added to this site.
INTRODUCTION
To the conflict, to the media, to the Electronic Intifada.
THE MEDIA
Commercial news content, with EI opinion, editorials, and
analysis.
REFERENCE LIBRARY
Reference, international law, human rights, and development.
EI
WIRE
Browse through our wire service/content stream menu and order a
take out.
FOR JOURNALISTS
Information geared to help working journalists navigate the
maze.
FOR ACTIVISTS
You are a large and diverse community with some great ideas.
