HOUSE DEMOLITIONS IN RAFAH RESUME

House Demolitions in Rafah Resume

(Reissued as received.)

GAZA, 20 May (UNRWA) -- The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is extremely concerned at concurring independent eye witness reports just received that the Israel Defence Forces have started to demolish houses in Rafah with their inhabitants still inside and prevented from exiting the buildings.

The UNRWA calls on the Israel Defence Forces to halt its demolition of houses immediately and discontinue the humanitarian tragedy it is wreaking on the largely civilian population of Rafah.

The UNRWA fully recognizes the right of the State of Israel to defend itself and its people.  The military actions of the last few days are in violation of Israel’s obligations under international law and will do nothing to safeguard Israel’s security or facilitate the resumption of serious attempts to find a solution to the conflict.

For more information contact:  in Jerusalem:  Sami Mshasha, office: +972-2-589-0408, mobile: +972-50-317-094; in Gaza:  Rene Aquarone, office: +972-8-677-7705, mobile: +972-59-428-068.

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