OIC urges UN intervention on Rafah disaster as Israel martyrs 15

By: Ahmad Hammadi

GAZA CITY: Israeli tanks and helicopters fired on protesters in a refugee camp on Wednesday, martyring over a dozen Palestinians and raising a two-day death toll to 40 in Israel's bloodiest Gaza raid in years.

The demonstration attacked in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah was staged to protest a massive army operation there, witnesses said.

Later, hundreds of left-wing activists staged demonstrations in Tel Aviv in protest over the Rafah attack in which 15 Palestinian protestors were martyred by the Israel Defense Forces. Police arrested several demonstrators.

In Jeddah, secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Dr. Abdul Wahed Belkeziz condemned Israel's large scale demolition of homes in the occupied territories, especially in Rafah.

He urged the United Nations to urgently intervene to put an end to this humanitarian catastrophe as well as compel Israel to abide by the international laws and to rush international forces to protect Palestinian citizens.

“The Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip constitute a clear contravention in letter and spirit of international laws and conventions, which consider such collective punishments as war crimes,” he said.

He also urged the Quartet Committee to intervene immediately to avert the arbitrary destruction and killings perpetrated by Israel in blatant violation of international law, as well as to ensure implementation of the Road Map.

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Some 2-dozen Pals martyred; Amnesty slams Israeli demolitions

RAFAH, Gaza Strip: Israeli helicopters pounded this refugee camp with missiles and machine gun fire Tuesday, leaving at least 20 Palestinians martyred and wounding dozens other while a London-based human rights watchdog severely condemned Israeli crimes against Palestinians.

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