Dozens of people were killed by Israeli forces in Beit Hanoun

By Yasser Al Banna, IOL Correspondent

GAZA CITY, July 28 (IslamOnline.net) – Besieged by Israeli occupation forces for over a month now, the 30,000 inhabitants of Beit Hanoun have much to complain about.

As occupation troops continue attacks on their northern Gaza Strip city, residents believe Palestinian officials swamped by reform talks and political wrangling have gave them the cold shoulder.

"Israeli tanks and bulldozers wrecked water and sanitary services in the city. More than ten houses were also demolished," said Ibrahim Hamad, the municipality head.

He asserted that the Israeli invading army also destroyed water wells and scooped up some 3,000 dunums of farmlands.

"The massive raid, launched on June 29, has claimed the lives of 15 Palestinians and left 120 others injured," said the official, adding that Israeli Apaches and tanks fire on civilians repeatedly.

Hamad regretted that media outlets and international organizations have kept a low-profile over the Israeli offensive.

"Every body disregards our tragedy, which words fail to describe," said Amal Ahmed, whose house wall was partially torn down by occupation forces in the city.

But she remained defiant, : "I could not leave my house now being destroyed by Israeli soldiers, even if they demolish it over my head."

"Silent" Media

Another resident said media outlets were mainly distracted from Beit Hanoun crisis by the reports of reforms and corruption charges.

"We blame President Yasser Arafat and his Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei for turning a blind eye to our ordeal," said the resident on condition of anonymity.

"They do not stage demonstrations for our sake, but rather busy themselves with infighting," he said, noting such protests would have pushed the international community to pressurize Israel for ending the offensive and siege.

Sit-in

Inhabitants of northern Gaza staged on Wednesday, July 28, a sit-in to voice anger with the official and public silence over what Israeli occupation forces commit in Beit Hanoun.

"The organizers decided to close the road moving from the strip to Erez checkpoint to prevent Palestinians from entering or leaving Gaza," said a member of Fatah.

"The cabinet and Parliament are apparently tight-lipped [not to condemn] the siege," he added.

"Our people are facing killing and starvation and no body is helping us."

The angry protestors prevented Palestinian officials from moving across a checkpoint linking the Gaza Strip and Erez checkpoint leading to Israel.

Social Affairs Minister Intisar Al-Wazir and Education Minister Nayam Abu al-Hummos were forced to turn back to the border between Israel and Gaza and then use back roads to reach Gaza City after being stopped in their car near the town of Beit Hanun.

They warned of more actions if the Palestinian Authority remains apathetic to their suffering and fully involved in its internal affairs.