| News from | |
Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2004 10:52 PM
This information was collected by the Mezan Center for Human Rights in Gaza City.
A radio Report by Dominic Subira, Catalunya Radio:
I was in the middle of the demonstration that started around 2 pm in Rafah, near the Al Awda Mosque. I saw no armed Palestinians in the demonstration (I was in the middle of the march). It was most definitely the Israelis who initiated the gunfire. I noticed helicopters firing heat balloons in the air, which did not explode. The first explosion I heard was from a shell that struck at the front of the demonstration. I then noticed that electricity lines made sparks and crackling sounds only 10 meters from where I was standing. In a few seconds I heard a huge explosion. People were running in every direction as another three explosions occurred. The first shell was aimed directly at the demonstration. The Israeli fired no warning missiles before this. Even while ambulances and civilian cars were collecting and transferring the wounded, the shelling continued. All the explosions took place at the site of the demonstration. The first shell caused numerous casualties.
Affidavit given to Al Mezan Center for Human Rights by Johannes Abeling, a freelancer journalist who was in the Rafah demonstration:
I was in the demonstration as thousands of people started to gather near the Al Awda Mosque in Rafah at around 2 pm. All the time I was in the middle of the demonstration. I noticed two armed Palestinians in the beginning of the demonstration, but saw them leave as the demonstrators marched within a few kilometers from where Israeli troops were positioned. I heard and saw no firing at the Israelis from within the demonstration. I heard flares of gunfire from Israeli troops as the mass of civilians continued to march. The first explosion I heard was a huge, and it targeted the front of the demonstration. There were numerous casualties. The Israelis fired no warning missiles near the demonstration before this. Then, I heard several explosions and saw people running everywhere. I saw what looked to be about 50 casualties (dead and wounded); many of them children.
I do not understand why an army has fired missiles into a crowd of peaceful demonstrators. This was a horrible experience.
page last updated 7 June, 2004