10/16/2004 On Saturday, the Israeli Army began pulling troops out of northern Gaza. As Palestinians sift through the ruins of their homes after the 18 -day onslaught, there are reports of a new Israeli incursion into Rafah in the Southern Gaza Strip.
10/13/2004 The death toll of the invasion into Jabaliya Refugee Camp of 113,000 residents in the Northern Gaza Strip continues to rise as 2,000 troops and hundreds of tanks continue their two-week old operation in this densely populated area. At least 118 Palestinians have been killed so far, 30 of whom were children under the age of 18. This morning, a 9-year-old Palestinian schoolgirl who was shot in the stomach by Israeli army gunfire while sitting at her desk in a UN-run school died. Additionally, the Israeli army said today it had suspended a officer under investigation for shooting repeatedly at close range into the body of a 13-year-old Palestinian schoolgirl who had already been gunned down on her way to class in southern Gaza last week.
A total closure of the camp is now being enforced, cutting electricity and water supplies. For a week now, residents have been without access to food supplies and hospitals are without medical and blood supplies. The Israeli military has been denying emergency medical crews access to besieged areas and in several cases targeting medical teams and ambulances. Yesterday, the Union of Health Work Committees in Gaza City reported that local area hospitals and clinics are full and are unable to adequately attend to the injured and dying due to the siege and closure.
10/5/2004 The US has vetoed a UN resolution condemning Israel's actions in Gaza. Israel's attacks on Gaza have gotten worse in recent days. 50,000 Palestinians are trapped in areas seized by the Israeli troops and many areas now are without electricity or water. Many of the dead in the past few days have been civilians. While Israel's actions have been drawing widespread condemnation worldwide, former Republican Presidential candidate Pat Robertson is in Israel with thousands of his supporters to show support for Israel and demand that no land be given back to Muslims.
10/1/2004 A widescale Israeli military offensive is currently underway in the Northern Gaza Strip. On Thursday, thirty one people were killed in the deadliest day of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in more than two years. On Friday, Israel sent up to 100 tanks into Gaza in a military operation approved by Sharon's cabinet. The European Union has denounced this latest attack by Israel as a "disproportionate" response. In recent days members of Israel's elite Air Force unit "Shaldag" have come forward to denounce aspect collective punishment used by the military during past incursions by the IDF into Gaza.
UN criticizes Israel for human rights violations in territories | Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations | Electronic Intifada | Union of Health Work Committees | Middle East Children's Alliance | Berkeley Press Conference