Post by Salem6 on Oct 14, 2003 11:42:26 GMT
The Israeli military has ordered the expulsion of 15 Palestinian detainees from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip.
Correspondents say the decision is unprecedented in its scope, with similar expulsions taking place only once before.
Kifah and Intisar Ajouri were expelled for helping their suicide bomber brother
Last year, three relatives of Palestinian suicide bombers were moved from the West Bank to Gaza in the hopes of deterring further attacks.
The practice of forcible expulsions has been denounced by human rights groups who say it runs contrary to international law.
But, last year's expulsions were sanctioned by Israel's Supreme Court.
The BBC's Jerusalem correspondent, Barbara Plett, reports that military sources say the decision to reinstate the practice was made in the wake of the recent Haifa restaurant bomb which killed 20.
"This measure has been taken in order to reduce the number of anti-Israeli attacks which have recently taken place " General Moshe Kaplinsky.
None of the detainees have been charged nor tried, although they are suspected of involvement with militant groups.
Military sources say the 15 candidates for expulsion were all captured in the West Bank and represent a range of Palestinian militant groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
The BBC's Jerusalem correspondent Barbara Plett says the 15 are suspected of aiding anti-Israeli attacks, but none of them are suspected of being directly involved in the killing of Israeli citizens.
Chance to appeal
The detainees have been moved to an Israeli detention facility at Erez Crossing, which borders the Gaza Strip - although they have been given 48 hours to appeal the decision, our correspondent says.
General Moshe Kaplinsky, the Israeli soldier in command of the central region which includes the West Bank, signed the expulsion order for "15 administrative detainees implicated in terrorist activities", the AFP news agency reported.
Israel has threatened Arafat with exile recently
"This measure has been taken in order to reduce the number of anti-Israeli attacks which have recently taken place," military sources were quoted as saying.
Israeli army radio reported that initially the group would be transferred to an Israeli detention centre inside Gaza before being released - although once freed they will not be allowed to leave Gaza.
News of the expulsion plan came just hours after Israeli troops, backed by about 40 tanks and helicopter gunships, raided the Rafah refugee camp in Gaza in the second large-scale incursion in less than a week.
Palestinian medical officials say at least three Palestinians have been injured in the operation, which the Israeli army says is aimed at destroying tunnels used to smuggle arms into the camp from neighbouring Egypt.
Houses bulldozed
In a repeat of Friday's raid, which United Nations officials said left 1,200 people homeless, local residents say the Israeli forces have destroyed a number of homes.
The first operation, in which eight Palestinians, including two children, were killed was condemned by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.
He issued a statement saying he "deplored" the killings.
Palestinian witnesses said the second incursion began when two columns of armoured vehicles entered the camp from two directions before 0400 (0200 GMT), heading for a different section of the camp from the one targeted earlier.
The sounds of gunfire and explosions filled the night the BBC's correspondent in Gaza, James Rodgers, said.
More than 1,000 are said to have been left homeless in Rafah
The Israeli army said it had discovered three tunnels in the camp, but no weapons had been found so far.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher rejected the Israeli accusations that arms were coming in from Egypt on Monday saying the claims were "without foundation".
Correspondents say the raid marks a change from previous Israeli tactics of launching brief incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas.
A senior UN official who went to assess damage said it looked like there had been a severe earthquake at the densely-populated camp in the south of the Gaza Strip, with up to 120 homes demolished.
But an Israeli army spokesman put the damage at "several" buildings destroyed, with the military targeting only structures used by militants.
Correspondents say the decision is unprecedented in its scope, with similar expulsions taking place only once before.
Kifah and Intisar Ajouri were expelled for helping their suicide bomber brother
Last year, three relatives of Palestinian suicide bombers were moved from the West Bank to Gaza in the hopes of deterring further attacks.
The practice of forcible expulsions has been denounced by human rights groups who say it runs contrary to international law.
But, last year's expulsions were sanctioned by Israel's Supreme Court.
The BBC's Jerusalem correspondent, Barbara Plett, reports that military sources say the decision to reinstate the practice was made in the wake of the recent Haifa restaurant bomb which killed 20.
"This measure has been taken in order to reduce the number of anti-Israeli attacks which have recently taken place " General Moshe Kaplinsky.
None of the detainees have been charged nor tried, although they are suspected of involvement with militant groups.
Military sources say the 15 candidates for expulsion were all captured in the West Bank and represent a range of Palestinian militant groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
The BBC's Jerusalem correspondent Barbara Plett says the 15 are suspected of aiding anti-Israeli attacks, but none of them are suspected of being directly involved in the killing of Israeli citizens.
Chance to appeal
The detainees have been moved to an Israeli detention facility at Erez Crossing, which borders the Gaza Strip - although they have been given 48 hours to appeal the decision, our correspondent says.
General Moshe Kaplinsky, the Israeli soldier in command of the central region which includes the West Bank, signed the expulsion order for "15 administrative detainees implicated in terrorist activities", the AFP news agency reported.
Israel has threatened Arafat with exile recently
"This measure has been taken in order to reduce the number of anti-Israeli attacks which have recently taken place," military sources were quoted as saying.
Israeli army radio reported that initially the group would be transferred to an Israeli detention centre inside Gaza before being released - although once freed they will not be allowed to leave Gaza.
News of the expulsion plan came just hours after Israeli troops, backed by about 40 tanks and helicopter gunships, raided the Rafah refugee camp in Gaza in the second large-scale incursion in less than a week.
Palestinian medical officials say at least three Palestinians have been injured in the operation, which the Israeli army says is aimed at destroying tunnels used to smuggle arms into the camp from neighbouring Egypt.
Houses bulldozed
In a repeat of Friday's raid, which United Nations officials said left 1,200 people homeless, local residents say the Israeli forces have destroyed a number of homes.
The first operation, in which eight Palestinians, including two children, were killed was condemned by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.
He issued a statement saying he "deplored" the killings.
Palestinian witnesses said the second incursion began when two columns of armoured vehicles entered the camp from two directions before 0400 (0200 GMT), heading for a different section of the camp from the one targeted earlier.
The sounds of gunfire and explosions filled the night the BBC's correspondent in Gaza, James Rodgers, said.
More than 1,000 are said to have been left homeless in Rafah
The Israeli army said it had discovered three tunnels in the camp, but no weapons had been found so far.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher rejected the Israeli accusations that arms were coming in from Egypt on Monday saying the claims were "without foundation".
Correspondents say the raid marks a change from previous Israeli tactics of launching brief incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas.
A senior UN official who went to assess damage said it looked like there had been a severe earthquake at the densely-populated camp in the south of the Gaza Strip, with up to 120 homes demolished.
But an Israeli army spokesman put the damage at "several" buildings destroyed, with the military targeting only structures used by militants.