The Palestinian Centre for Human RightsOn Thursday morning, 11 December2003 , Israeli occupying forces killed 5 Palestinians, injured13 , and destroyed 9 houses during a military incursion into the al-Salam neighborhood in Rafah. Israeli occupying forces stated that the aim of the operation was to arrest a Palestinian wanted for involvement in attacks against Israeli targets.
According to preliminary investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately: 04:00 Thursday, Israeli soldiers, reinforced by a number of heavy military vehicles and a military helicopter, moved approximately600 m into the al-Salam neighborhood in the south of Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border. Under cover of Israeli gunfire, Israeli troops surrounded houses in the neighbourhood belonging to the families of al-Qadhi and al-Waqili. Israeli soldiers used megaphones to call on residents to exit their homes. Soldiers also called on Khaled al-Qadhi to surrender to them. Israeli forces stated that they believed him to be a member of the Islamic Jihad. Residents exited their homes and Israeli soldiers detained them for about an hour; the male residents, over the age of 18 , were handcuffed and blindfolded. Khaled al-Qadhi refused to leave his house and a gunfight ensued between him and Israeli soldiers. Israeli soldiers ordered residents to evacuate the area. Shortly after, Israeli occupying forces demolished 9 houses belonging to the families of al-Qadhi and al-Waqili, rendering 65 people ( 11families) homeless.
13 Palestinian civilians, including 6 children and 2 women, were wounded. Four of the injured remain in a critical condition.