=================================================================================================================================1/New
bloodshed in Rafah, by Adwan

[Tel Es-Sultan, Gaza Strip] Death has become something usual in
Rafah. The invasion would not be successful if the occupation army
didn't kill dozens of Palestinians. At least 20 Palestinians were
killed until now and more than 60 were injured in 12 hours. Last
week 16 were killed during the invasion to Block O. While everyone
was expecting the operation to come from block O or Yebna, the
occupation forces invaded Tel Sultan in the west of Rafah.

Tel Es-Sultan is the area located between the illegal settlements
bloc Gush Katif and Rafah in the southern part of the Gaza strip. In
the past three years, clashes or invasions in Tel Es-Sultan have
hardly been reported. Its location makes it an easy area to invade
and to cut off from the rest of Rafah.

Why did the army invade Tel Es-Sultan when it has no border with
Egypt and therefore could not hide any tunnels? The people of Tel Es-
Sultan did not expect to be so heavily targeted from the occupation
forces. Many people here think that the Israeli army leadership
meant to invade Tel Es-Sultan in order for the soldiers to regain
self-confidence after the several deadly attacks against the army in
Gaza over the last few days.

The operation started after midnight as usual. The tanks cut all the
ways which lead to Tel Es-Sultan and soldiers took positions on the
roofs of many houses in the area, shooting at anyone who tried to
get out of his house or to open his window. Almost all the martyrs
died because they were wounded and bleeding in the streets for hours
without any assistance. Ambulances were not allowed to reach injured
people for 5 hours during the invasion and 4 ambulances were stuck
with their teams and injured patients during this five hours.

20 people are reported killed, including two children. Ahmed
Mughayer and his sister Asma were on the roof of their house when
both got shot. Their father asked for help through the local radio
as his children were severely bleeding from their wounds after being
brought back into the house. He watched his children dying in front
of his eyes without any chance to help them. They died, one after
the other, in front of all the family members. Six of the martyrs
who died in the streets were laying there for hours before the
military allow the ambulances to take them.

Who knows? Maybe these two kids were fighters …

=======================================================================================================================================2/Press
Release: Medical Rights Being Violated in Gaza Strip


Physician for Human Rights
13:15, 18 May 2004
For immediate release

Medical Rights Being Violated in Gaza Strip

Since the early morning Physicians for Human Rights-Israel has
received complaints concerning obstruction of medical teams from
aiding the wounded in Rafah Refugee Camp.

The road from Rafah to Khan Younis has been closed by the Israeli
army. Therefore, as of now, 12wounded persons cannot be evacuated to
the European Hospital- an advanced medical center. This leaves
Yousef Al Najar Hospital – which does not have an intensive care
unit and is lacking needed equipment – to deal alone with all the
people and the enormous load.

Two ambulances were stuck in Tel Sultan neighborhood from the early
morning, since the Israeli army did not allow them to reach 8
wounded and 3 dead people; it also did not allow them to return to
the hospital. Only at about 13:00 were they released and were
allowed to begin to search for the dead and wounded. As of now, the
wounded have yet to be evacuated. Physicians for Human Rights-Israel
is also investigating complaints that two ambulances were fired upon
by the Israeli army in the same area.

Two ambulances that were in Khan Younis in the early morning are
stuck at the checkpoint unable to return to the hospital.

Physicians for Human Rights-Israel turned to the media, Members of
Knesset, and is considering taking legal action in order to stop the
attack and allow for normal medical activity. Physicians for Human
Rights-Israel condemns any attack on medical vehicles, institutions
or staff, and calls on all sides to respect all relevant
International Humanitarian Law.

Physicians for continues to be in contact with medical and human
rights organizations in the Gaza Strip and is constantly receiving
updates and additional information.

For more details please contact:

Hadas Ziv, Director: Occupied Territories Project- +972-54-6623232
Shabtai Gold, Public Outreach- +972-54-4860630

=======================================================================================================================================
For updates, journal and photos of the situation in Rafah, please go
to:

 http://www.rafahkid.net

For donations to help Palestinian refugees in Rafah, please go to:
 http://www.al-awda.org/urgentrafahappeal


END