Israel Matzav

Police use bulldozer to demolish three Arab homes, one killed

A police officer was killed and three Arab homes were demolished by police bulldozers on Sunday. But you heard nothing about it because... the police belonged to Hamas (Hat Tip: My Right Word).

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 23:30 on Sunday, 31 July 2011, medical staff at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City announced the death of Majed Hamdan Karam, 23, a police officer from al-Tufah neighborhood in Gaza City. Karam died of wounds he sustained that afternoon in an armed clash in Juhor al-Dik village. He was on duty with Palestinian police and they were accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Awqaf (religious affairs) and a bulldozer in order to enforce the court ruling. The force headed to a plot owned by the Ministry of Awqaf. The plot was used by the Abu Thaher family who built three houses on the plot. Three families lived in the houses. As the force started bulldozing the three houses, members of the Abu Thaher family and members of the Abu Hein family intervened to stop the demolition. The police arrested four persons, and partially destroyed the houses which are now uninhabitable. While the police were leaving the village, gunmen who are relatives of two of the detainees approached them. The gunmen are believed to be members of a Palestinian armed group. An armed clash took place between the police and the gunmen. Two of the gunmen and three policemen, including Karam, were wounded as a result. The wounded were transferred to the al-Shifa Hospital for medical treatment. The wounds of Karam were gravely serious and he was pronounced dead on the same day.

It should be noted that the late Mohammed Salem Abu Thaher had leased the plot of land from the Ministry of Awqaf for more than 45 years. After his death, his sons continued to lease it. According to statements made to a PCHR fieldworker by lawyer Faraj al-Shurafa, in 1999, the Ministry of Awqaf filed a claim requesting the evacuation of the land. On 31 March 2009, the court issued a final ruling ordering the evacuation of the land. However, the Ministry of Awqaf continued to lease parts of the said land to heirs of Mohammed Salem Abu Thaher.

They squat everywhere, don't they? But when Israel's not involved, no one else cares.

Labels: Gaza, Hamas, home demolitions

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:28 PM