May 25, 2004
Israeli Army Criticized for Gaza Action
Associated Press

The Israeli government and army faced growing criticism Tuesday after a weeklong offensive in a Gaza refugee camp that netted few arms-smuggling tunnels or weapons caches, but killed 45 Palestinians, destroyed dozens of homes and earned Israel an international rebuke.

By JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press Writer

JERUSALEM - The Israeli government and army faced growing criticism Tuesday after a weeklong offensive in a Gaza refugee camp that netted few arms-smuggling tunnels or weapons caches, but killed 45 Palestinians, destroyed dozens of homes and earned Israel an international rebuke.

Israeli troops pulled out of the Rafah refugee camp late Monday, without completing a sweep for tunnels used by militants to smuggle weapons across the Egyptian border. The army said it uncovered three tunnels and detained 10 wanted men for questioning.

Military officials said they believe there are about 10 tunnels in Rafah, and Gaza commander Maj. Gen. Dan Harel suggested troops may resume the search later.

Rafah resident Mustafa Arja, 45, who stayed in his house as Israeli bulldozers knocked down his garden wall, said he was bracing for more raids. "I don't think that any place is safe in Rafah, and I don't think there is any guarantee left for us that they are not going to come back," he said.

Israeli tanks and bulldozers left behind piles of rubble, pitted streets and dozens of demolished or damaged buildings. A local official estimated troops caused about $7 million in damage to infrastructure in Rafah, including the electricity grid and water and sewage pipes.

Israel launched the Rafah offensive after 13 Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza this month. But the high number of casualties and scenes of displaced Palestinians picking through the rubble of their homes sparked fierce international criticism.

The U.N. Security Council passed a resolution last week condemning the Israeli operation; the United States, in a sign of significant displeasure with Israel, abstained rather than using its veto.

A growing number of Israeli commentators joined in criticism of the raid Tuesday, saying it had accomplished little, at a very high price — both in Palestinian suffering and in harm to Israel's image.

"We could have achieved similar results, or even better ones, through much more pinpointed operations," commentator Amir Rappaport wrote in the Maariv daily.

Matan Vilnai, a retired general and opposition legislator, told Israel Army Radio: "We must understand that not everything can be solved by force."

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) plans to seek Cabinet approval on Sunday for a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops and some 7,500 Jewish settlers from Gaza, which is home to 1.3 million Palestinians. An earlier pullout plan was rejected by Sharon's Likud Party, but polls suggest withdrawal is backed by a majority of Israelis.

Israeli Vice Premier Ehud Olmert said a one-vote majority was emerging in the Cabinet in favor of a Gaza withdrawal.

Officially, Palestinian leaders dismiss Sharon's pullout plan, which does not envision negotiations with the Palestinian Authority (news - web sites). However, behind the scenes, officials said there had been a change of attitudes on both sides.

Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman met Monday with Sharon and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (news - web sites), offering to play a major role in assuring security in Gaza and an orderly transfer of power.

Suleiman urged Palestinian leaders to go along with Sharon's plan, which would also include a withdrawal from four West Bank settlements, according to Palestinian officials.

Arafat promised to prepare a Gaza security plan by June 15, to show he is capable of running the coastal strip, the officials said.

Israeli sources said Egypt promised increased border security to clamp down on weapons smuggling into Gaza, and to train Palestinian security forces.

During the Rafah operation, 45 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire, including at least 17 gunmen and 12 children under 16, doctors said.

The army said 41 "terrorists" were killed, but did not respond to repeated requests for a list of gunmen killed by troops.

In the camp's Brazil neighborhood, bulldozers tried to clear streets Tuesday so workers could restore electricity and repair water and sewage pipes.

Estimates of the number of houses demolished in Rafah varied. The United Nations (news - web sites) said 45 buildings housing 575 people were razed, while Palestinian officials said about 300 houses were destroyed. Israel said 56 homes were demolished or damaged.

The U.N. Relief and Works Agency said 360 families, or 1,960 people, have had their homes demolished by Israeli forces in Rafah since May 1. The agency called the period one of the most destructive in Rafah since the start of the Palestinian uprising in 2000. In all, more than 13,000 Palestinians have been made homeless by Israeli demolitions in Rafah since 2000, UNRWA said.

It was difficult to obtain an independent estimate of the most recent demolitions because razed homes were scattered through the camp.

Yousef Bahloul, a businessman, said three tank shells hit one of his two seven-story apartment buildings, leaving gaping holes in the facade.

"The aim is to destroy everything and to kill the hope of any good future for all of us," said his son Rami.

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Associated Press writer Ibrahim Barzak in Rafah contributed to this report.

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