Operation Rainbow
| date | May 18th bis 23. May 2004 |
|---|---|
| place | Gaza Strip |
| output | Israeli victory |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
| losses | |
|
no |
50 |
The Operation Rainbow ( Hebrew מבצע קשת בענן Miwtza keschet baAnan ) refers to a land operation of the Israeli Tzahal Army (Israel Defense Forces, IDF) in the Gaza Strip on the border with Egypt from May 18 to 21, 2004 .
prehistory
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon presented his unilateral disengagement plan on February 3, 2004. The majority of the Palestinians rejected this plan. In order to ensure a smooth withdrawal of the Israeli settlements from the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army started the operation.
In the run-up to the operation, on May 10, 2004, heavy fighting broke out between the Israeli army and Palestinian militants. Six Israeli soldiers and seven Palestinian fighters were killed.
aims
The aim of the military operation was to prevent the smuggling of weapons from Egypt in Rafah in the Gaza Strip, the possession of which is illegal for the Palestinians under the previous agreement . This was intended to contain attacks on Jewish settlements and to make suicide bombings and rocket attacks on Israel more difficult in advance. Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip should also make it safer.
Another goal was to widen the border road to Egypt, which is up to 200 meters wide and nine kilometers long. This road is of strategic importance for the Israeli military. Arms smuggling from Egypt should also be restricted by destroying tunnels.
procedure
On May 18, 2004, the Israeli military occupied a refugee camp in Rafah on the border with Egypt. On May 21, 2004, the Israeli army withdrew from Rafah.
consequences
- The IDF reportedly killed 32 civilians, including 10 under the age of 18, and 12 armed fighters. Three tunnel entrances were found during the operation, one of which consisted only of a partially dug shaft that had been sealed with concrete weeks earlier by the Palestinian Authority .
- International criticism of this type of counter-terrorism came, among others, from the American administration under George W. Bush, while at the same time the US administration referred to Israel's right to self-defense .
- A resolution of UN Security Council condemned the killing of civilians and the destruction of residential houses. As an occupying power, Israel must conscientiously fulfill its legal responsibilities under the Fourth Geneva Convention and protect the lives of civilians in times of war .
- As part of the action, 166 houses were destroyed, making 2,085 people homeless.
- The Israeli army's demolition offensive ended on Friday, May 21, 2004.
The operation was also part of a plan to create a neutralized Gaza Strip that poses no threat to Israel. The danger of such Israeli military actions was seen in the effect due to the exposed location (center of three world religions) on other areas such as Iraq, al-Qaeda, anti-Semitism, US foreign policy. It was feared that the roadmap would be implemented according to existing drawings, as well as extensive military and killing operations against Palestinian civilians. Such fears are supported in view of the violence policy of certain Israeli politicians, notably Ariel Sharon .
Further development
- Israel's Justice Minister Josef Lapid said in the cabinet : The picture of an old Palestinian woman in the ruins of her house reminds him "of [his] grandmother in the Holocaust". There is no forgiveness for people who treat an old woman like this. However, he partially withdrew this statement after protests.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger of May 12, 2004, page 5
- ↑ a b Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger from May 19, 2004, page 10
- ↑ Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger of May 18, 2004, page 6
- ↑ a b Razing Rafah Investigation Report by Human Rights Watch