Beit Hanoun
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| Beit Hanoun | |
| Arabic | بيت حانون |
| Government | City |
| Also Spelled | Beit Hanun (officially)
Bayt Hanun (unofficially) |
| Governorate | North Gaza |
| Population | 32,100 (2006) |
| Jurisdiction | ? dunams (? km²) |
Beit Hanoun (Arabic: بيت حانون) is a city on the north-east edge of the Gaza Strip with a population of 32,000. It is administered by the Palestinian Authority. It is located by the Hanoun stream, just 6 kilometers (4 mi) away from the Israeli town of Sderot.
Because of its location, Palestinian militants launch their handmade rockets against Israel from that area, over the security fence.
This town is also notable for the Beit Hanoun November 2006 incident where 19 Palestinians were killed by IDF shelling. According to Israeli authorities it was in response for its use as a base from which Palestinian militant groups have fired Qassam rockets into the northern Negev towns like Sderot, as well as the former Gush Katif settlements.
In December 2006, the UN appointed a fact-finding commission led by Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu to investigate the attack. However, Tutu and the other members were not granted permission to travel by Israel and the investigation was cancelled.[1]
According to the Palestinian Authority, prior to the November 2006 incident, at least 140 Palestinians were killed by Israeli Forces in Beit Hanoun from September 2000 to November 2006. [2]
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