User:Falastine fee Qalby/Zeitoun tragedy

The following article can be found in the mainspace at Zeitoun incident

See also: 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict
Zeitoun Incident
Zeitoun neighborhood after attacks
LocationZeitoun, Gaza
DateStarted January 4, 2009
Deaths48
PerpetratorsIsraeli Defence Forces

The Zeitoun Incident refers to the Israeli military incursion, led by the Givati Brigade unit of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF),[1] in the Zeitoun district of Gaza as part of the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict. In the Arab world, the name Zeitoun District Massacre (Arabic: مجزرة حي الزيتون)[2] is used to refer to any of the incidents in Zeitoun. A total of 48 people were killed[1] and 27 homes, a mosque and a number of farms were destroyed. Zeitoun residents believe that because the area is a natural choke point close to the Israeli border, Israeli troops turned the Zeitoun neighborhoods into a military base from which they launched their operations.[3]

Israeli forces removed families from their homes and used the buildings as outposts. Many civilians were attacked after being evacuated. The events in Zeitoun were among the most notable incidents of the conflict; according to the New York Times, although the Israelis have "razed building and upended families" throughout the Gaza Strip, Zeitoun residents were among those who suffered the most during the conflict. A report released by United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs stated that the attack on the Samouni family, who were among the Zeitoun victims, was one of the "gravest incidents" in the conflict."[4]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference smellofdeath was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "مجزرة مروعة يرتكبها الاحتلال بحق أسرة بحي الزيتون". Aljazeera. 2009/1/05. Retrieved 2009/4/07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference gazafamily was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ El-Khodary, Taghreed (2009/1/09). "For Arab Clan, Days of Agony in a Cross-Fire". New York Times. Retrieved 2009/2/07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)