Emergency Demo to Protest Latest Israeli Massacre of Palestinians in Rafah

When: Friday, May 21, 4:00 PM
Where: Israeli Consulate, 111 East Wacker Drive
( Just east of the corners of Michigan Avenue and Wacker.)

Logistics: Please bring signs, banners, posters, Palestinian flags, props, and most importantly as many people as you can reach.

Initiated by the Coalition for Justice in Palestine. Endorsers list in formation.

What Happened?

At least 11 people were killed when an Israeli Apache attack helicopter and tank opened fire on a crowd of Palestinian demonstrators who had gathered to protest Israel's efforts to flatten hundreds of Rafah homes to widen an Israeli army-controlled 'security corridor' along the border with Egypt

Earlier Wednesday, Israeli forces ordered males over 16 in the Rafah refugee camp to gather in one place or risk demolition of family homes. Israel has threatened to carry out a systematic destruction of homes in the impoverished area since the start of the invasion.

The Palestine News Network initially estimated that some 1,500 people were particpating in the peaceful march in Rafah when the attack began. BBC News reports later put the estimated crowd size at about 3000. The attack happened as protesters marched down the main street of Rafah towards the Tel Al-Sultan area where Israeli raids have been concentrated in the last two days.

Eyewitnesses report that people fled screaming, some dragging bloodied comrades and others carrying wounded children in their arms. "It was horrifying," said Mahmoud Abu Hashem, 35. "There was one person with his intestines coming out. Another had blood covering his face and you couldn't even make out his features". Fatalities are expected to quickly rise, with at least 60 - many who are school children and women - seriously wounded.

See Rafah Video (AP) ( Requires RealVideo ) | Al Jazeera Video ( Arabic ) - Windows Media

Emergency demonstrations are now being organized world wide to protest this latest outrage by Israeli occupation forces.

Breaking News from Palestine: (websites )

[ Palestine News Network | Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza | Electronic Intifada | Gaza Blog | Alternative Information Center | Al Jazeera.net (English Edition) ]

The Attack on Rafah - Photo Galleries from Yahoo News

Background Report: Amnesty International:

Israel and the Occupied Territories: Under the rubble: House demolition and destruction of land and property

Banner photo collage reposted from the Electronic Intifada