Live from the Field:

The Al ‘Aadi Family Continue to Suffer

-         Palestinian Families – like the al ‘Aadi family – continue to suffer throughout the ’disengagement’ process.

Disengagement (D-Day) Field Report: No. 15

Date:  1^st of September 2005

Time: 1000 GMT

Location: Central Gaza Strip: al-Shuhada crossroads to the east of “Netzarim” settlement, south of Gaza City, and "Karni" crossing, east of the city. 

Um Hussein Al ‘Aadi

The al ‘Aaidi Family

The al 'Aaidi family is one of the Palestinian families that have extremely suffered as a result of violations of human rights perpetrated by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF).  The family members have had considerable suffering inflicted on them because they refused to leave their home - in spite of the many assaults by IOF.  The family's suffering has sharply increased during the current Intifada.  Even before the Intifada, and maybe since the beginning of the Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip, the family had suffered so much, as the householder and his sons were arrested, the family's home was demolished and a members of the family was killed by IOF. 

The al-'Aaidi family lives about 150 meters to the east of a settlers road that links between al-Shuhada crossroads to the east of “Netzarim” settlement, south of Gaza City, and "Karni" crossing, east of the city.  Since the beginning of the current Intifada, all members of the family, whether adults or children, women or men, have become targets for IOF.  The family's property has also been subject to destruction by IOF.  IOF have denied the family access to electricity and water.  IOF have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of the family members and have prevented them from receiving guests.  IOF have done everything they can to force the family to leave the area. 

Throughout the Intifada al Shuhada' crossroads was a scene for intense clashes between the Palestinian resistance and IOF.  The road, near which the family lives, was transformed into a military one, closed for Palestinian civilians. 

Since the beginning of the current Intifada, IOF have sought to force civilians out of the areas located near al Shuhada crossroads and on both sides of the aforementioned road.  They have made efforts to force the families living there to leave their homes, claiming that the Palestinian resistance has used homes and trees as a cover to attack “Netzarim” settlement and neighbouring military posts. 

IOF have razed large areas of agricultural land and have demolished hundreds of houses.  Dozens of families have been forced by IOF to leave their homes in the area.  Only the al 'Aaidi family refused to leave their home, despite the intense efforts by the IOF to force them to leave the area. 

The family's home has been surrounded by IOF since the first months of the current Intifada.  IOF have attacked the family and their property.  For instance, IOF had used the third floor of the family's house as a military site for 11 months. 

“They forced us to stay on the second floor and seized the third one.  They closed the doors and prevented us from moving towards the third floor.  They fired from our house at neighbouring houses.  Their tanks and bulldozers were intensely moving around the house.  They also prevented children from going to school for several days.  When they left the house, they established a military post a few meters away from it.  This site has been a source for our suffering, as IOF have imposed severe restrictions on our movement.  They fired at us if we go out home without their permission.”  These are the words of Um Hussein al-'Aaidi, who also talked to PCHR about her family's suffering in 2001.  Her face tells much about the suffering that is caused by the IOF, stories that are full of tears and pain.  Many believe that these stories would become memories when Israeli settlements and military posts are dismantled.  However, IOF continue to cause intensive suffering for Palestinian civilians even while they are leaving Palestinian areas.

Um Hussein was able to come to PCHR's offices, in spite of the threats directed to her by IOF when she leaves her house, to testify about the family's current conditions.  She said: “IOF replaced the five military posts that stood at al-Shuhada crossroads with five tanks, in addition to dozens of tanks and military vehicles that patrol in the area day and night terrifying our children and us.”  She added, while tears were falling from her eyes: “We have suffered too much since IOF started to evacuate settlements and dismantled military posts.  They surrounded our houses and prohibited our movement.  They brought sand and debris and put them onto our houses.  Large parts of the houses of my two sons were buried.”

Israeli actions in the area have resulted in cutting water pipelines that the family used to bring water from a well that is nearly two kilometres away from the family's home.  IOF have detained the family, including 21 children, at home.  There are concerns that the family may run out of drinking water and food, even though the ICRC has been sporadically able to bring some humanitarian assistance to the family. 

International Law

Settlements and settlers are illegal under international law.  The Fourth Geneva Convention, the primary document governing the OPT, stipulates in Article 49 that the transfer of the population of the occupying power into the occupied territory is in breach of international law.   The International Court of Justice confirmed in its 2004 judgment that settlements and settlement activity is illegal.

Freedom of movement is a right afforded to Palestinian civilians under the Fourth Geneva Convention as well as under established international treaties on human rights.  Preventing free movement of people and goods interferes with the right to work, the right to health, the right to education, the right not to be held as a prisoner without a free and fair trial. 

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Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

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