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Zoo destroyed in Rafah siege
21/05/2004 16:27 - (SA)
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| A Palestinian youth rubs the back of a pony as it stands next to its destroyed barn. (Kevin Frayer, AP) |
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Rafah, Gaza Strip - A headless ostrich, dead chickens and a peacock littered the ground at the local zoo in this Gaza refugee camp Friday. The zoo's owner said Israeli troops, backed by bulldozers, demolished cages and pens, killing some animals and setting dozens more free.
Associated Press Television News footage showed the mangled body of a goat lying near the twisted wreckage of its former pen as flies swarmed the rotting corpse.
Zoo owner and manager Mohammed Jumaa said the overwhelming majority of the animals were either dead or had escaped.
"There are no words to describe the pain that I feel right now," said Jumaa. "This is all part of the army's planned destruction of Rafah, its buildings, its people, and even its animals."
The Israeli army said it was checking the report.
Residents gathered at the site of what was once one of Rafah's few entertainment spots to view the destruction.
A young boy ducked and covered his ears from the rattle of machine-gun fire as he walked between dead birds partially buried in the sand. A pony, several dogs, and a few dozen parrots were among the survivors.
39 Palestinians dead
Jumaa said a tiger, some 55 African and American parrots, a variety of snakes and several raccoons and monkeys were unaccounted for. The zoo's kangaroo was spotted by local residents and captured, said Jumaa.
Israel says its four day-old military offensive in this sprawling refugee camp near the Egyptian border is aimed at arresting Palestinian militants and uncovering arms-smuggling tunnels. Thirty-nine Palestinians have died, including gunmen and eight demonstrators hit by a tank shell, since troops moved into the camp on Tuesday.
On Friday, Israeli troops pulled back from two neighbourhoods they had occupied, leaving behind demolished and damaged homes, torn-up roads and flattened cars.
Jumaa said he believed the zoo was targeted deliberately.
"The zoo was clearly marked with signs and banners," he said. "Animals have been shot and cages destroyed. This was intentional."
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