Juhor ad-Dik - Johr al-Deek Gaza Strip
Destruction of a Village - War Criminality in Gaza ?
Juhor ad-Dik was a small farming village south east of Gaza City.
During the 23-day Israeli offensive into Gaza from December 27 2008 to January 17 2009 more than 1200 Palestinians were killed and more than 5000 injured. Most sources say that more then half of them was civilians, women and childs.
4,000 residential buildings has been bombed to rubble and 16,000 other houses has been damaged during the conflict.
The Palestinian economy has lost at least $1.6 billion.
The targets for the Israeli army has been schools, university buildings, hospitals, mosques, roads, bridges, power lines, water pipes and the sewage system.
Juhor ad-Dik was a strategic point south east of Gaza because of the height overlooking the demarcation line and the entrance to Gaza City.
But is was just a farm village with 3000-4000 inhibitors.
After the Israelis had dropped leaflets to warn civilians, and almost all fled to a U.N.-run elementary school in the refugee camp of Bureij.
The Israelis then destroyed the village completely using bulldozers house by house. They used 5-6 days to completelly destroy the village including large areas with Olive trees. Trees which will take 20-30 years to grow up again and give fruits.
Why?
External Links:
National Lawyers Guild Delegation: War Crimes in Gaza invasion
New York Times story on JUHR EL DIK
NPR Article - Gaza Village Bears Scars Of Israeli Offensive
annies-letters.blogspot.com
Counting casualties of Gaza's war - BBC
International Criminal Court to consider Gaza investigation - LA-Times
Growing outrage at the killings in Gaza
From letter signed by more than 500 intellectuals, University Professors, writers, musicians, and journalists.
"Israel must lose. It is not enough to call for another ceasefire, or more humanitarian assistance. It is not enough to urge the renewal of dialogue and to acknowledge the concerns and suffering of both sides. If we believe in the principle of democratic self-determination, if we affirm the right to resist military aggression and colonial occupation, then we are obliged to take sides... against Israel, and with the people of Gaza and the West Bank."
A foot-note by the publisher (Hans Nyberg Panoramas.dk)
In 1963 to 1966 I was a UN Soldier in Gaza - Rafah and Sharm El Sheik.
The Swedish UN Bataljon had Gaza and the area south east of Gaza City to guard.
I lived 3 months at a Camp situated less than 1 km from what today is-was the village of Juhor ad-Dik.
The situation at that time was calm. No incidents at all during my 2 years in Gaza
Shortly after I left from my last assignment at the UN Hospital in Rafah, Israel invaded Gaza and the UN fled the area.
The 1967 Six-Day War changed everything. Israel took 35,000 Palestinians lifes many of them civilians. Thei Israeli's own loss was only 600.
The unhuman treatment of the Palestinians during the coming years when Israel occupied the area created Hamas and the situation we have today.
Read BOB FELDMAN 's Blog on How Militaristic Israel Invaded Gaza In 1967
360o panorama
More images at Andreas Flickr page