5)
Separation of Rafah from
the outside world
The
Israeli government not
only demolished the
Palestinian houses, but
it also fastened its
military fist on the
various areas, by
separating and isolating
them from the
surrounding environment.
In addition,
Israeli settlers often
attack the Palestinian
inhabitants and damage
their properties.
According
to the Oslo agreements
signed between the PLO
and Israel, the Israeli
government maintains
full administrative and
security jurisdictions
over the area of
al-Mawassi (classified
as area C).
And so, the
Israeli army prevents
any one from entering or
leaving that area,
except its residents,
and on many occasions
even those are not
allowed in or out.
The
medical care, the work
of medical teams, and
movement of ambulances
inside and from Rafah
District have been
greatly paralyzed by the
Israeli army.
Israel has closed
the crossing to Egypt
several times, on some
occasions for weeks,
thus preventing the
transfer of injured
people to be treated in
Egypt or Jordan. Moreover, Palestinians from Rafah who used to travel into
Israel for treatment in
the Israeli hospitals
were also prevented from
leaving their homes.
To the fullest extent of the means available to it, the Occupying Power
has the duty of
ensuring the food and
medical supplies of
the population; it
should, in particular,
bring in the necessary
foodstuffs, medical
stores and other
articles if the
resources of the
occupied territory are
inadequate.
Article
55, Geneva Convention
Relative to the
Protection of Civilian
Persons in Time of
War, of August 12,
1949
Despite
the fact that the text
of the above mentioned
article is so clear, the
practices of the
occupying Israeli army
on the ground resemble
obvious violation and
disrespect to the Geneva
Conventions.
The
Israeli military closure
imposed on the
Palestinian Territories
in general, and on
al-Mawassy area in
particular, caused
considerable
difficulties on the
Palestinian population
in the area, that in
some cases, sick people
passed away on the
military checkpoints as
a result of not being
able to pass in order to
go to clinics or
hospitals.
The Israeli army
didn’t respect the
principle of protecting
medical teams and their
vehicles.
Many members of
medical staff were
killed or injured during
the current Intifada by
gunfire from Israeli
soldiers.
Persons regularly and solely engaged in the operation and administration
of civilian hospitals,
including the
personnel engaged in
the search for,
removal and
transporting of and
caring for wounded and
sick civilians, the
infirm and maternity
cases, shall be
respected and
protected.
Article
20, Geneva Convention
Relative to the
Protection of Civilian
Persons in Time of
War, of August 12,
1949
In addition, Israeli military boats attacked
Palestinian fishermen in
al-Mawassy area in Rafah
District and prevented
them from fishing in the
Mediterranean Sea.
On 16th
January 2002 the Israeli
army occupied the
fishing port in Rafah
and confiscated a number
of Palestinian boats.
