Ref: 115/2014
Date: 3 August 2014
Time: 07:00 GMT

Israeli Forces Redeploy in Invaded Areas in the Gaza Strip;
Complete Neighborhoods Destroyed;
More Bodies of Victims Recovered from Debris of Homes;
Electricity off for 6th Consecutive Day in Gaza City;
Warnings of Diseases Due to Lack of Electricity and Water Supplies and Spread of Garbage in Streets

Since the Beginning of the Israeli Offensive on Gaza:
1,817 Palestinians Killed, of Whom 1,545 Are Civilians, Including 430 Children and 231 Women, and 7,553 Others Wounded, Mostly Civilians, Including 2,009 Children and 1,349 Women;
775 Houses Targeted and Destroyed and Thousands of Others Extensively Damaged;
Thousands of Palestinians Forcibly Displaced

Israeli occupation forces have continued their brutal and immoral offensive on the Gaza Strip for the 26th consecutive day, and have continued the policy of collective punishment in disregard for the international law and humanitarian law, which ensure protection for civilians in times of war, and in violation of the principles of necessity, proportionality and distinction. Israeli forces have continued their aerial, ground and sea attacks throughout the Gaza Strip, causing more civilian casualties and damaging civilian facilities. Israeli forces escalated their attacks throughout the Gaza Strip. On Saturday afternoon, Israeli forces redeployed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel leaving some areas which they had moved into, excluding al-Shujaa’iya, al-Zaytoun and al-Sha’af neighborhoods in Gaza City, Beit Hanoun and the east of Jablya. PCHR field workers reported that Israeli forces left extensive destruction to houses, civilian facilities and the infrastructure. Smells of corpses under debris of houses prevail in these area. A PCHR field worker reported that Khuza’a village and al-Farrahin neighborhood in Khuza’a village have become uninhabitable. In the meantime, Rafah has been subjected to a violent offensive, as Israeli forces have continued to attack the city from the air, the ground and the sea. Complete families, including many children, the youngest of whom is 10 days old, were annihilated under the debris of their homes, which were destroyed by Israeli warplanes without prior warnings.

Electricity supplies have been off in the Gaza Strip for the 6th consecutive day. Municipalities face extreme difficulties in their work due to the lack of fuel supplies and because if Israeli attacks. These developments raise concerns regarding public health in Gaza Strip, which is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. The crisis has further aggravated as at least 520,000 civilians were forcibly displaced from their homes, and were forced to resort to shelters in the centers of towns and refugee camps.

PCHR field workers have been unable to collect information from border areas in the Gaza Strip, because the situation is extremely dangerous in these areas. The following details are based on the information which the field workers have been able to collect.

From 10:00 on Saturday, 02 August 2014, to 10:00 on Sunday, 03 August 2014, according to what PCHR has been able to document, 80 Palestinians, 67 of whom are civilians, including 18 children, 12 women, were killed, and 278 others, including 92 children and 49 women, were wounded. Medical crews were able to recover the bodies of 45 Palestinians, 37 of whom are civilians, including 10 children and 7 women. Three civilians died of previous wounds. Additionally, Israeli warplanes destroyed 39 houses.

The latest developments since the press release issued by PCHR yesterday noon have been as follows:

The Northern Gaza Strip:

Israeli forces launched 34 airstrikes while Israeli tanks and gunboats fired dozens of artillery shells targeting houses, agricultural plots, open areas and a mosque. As a result of these attacks, 9 Palestinians, 6 of whom are civilians, including a child and 3 women; were killed, and 58 others, including 19 children and 8 women, were wounded. Israeli forces also targeted and destroyed 10 houses, and damaged some others.

The most significant attacks were as follows:

• At approximately 09:00 on Saturday, 02 August 2014, medical sources declared that a member of a Palestinian armed group died of wounds he had sustained on 26 July 2014.
• At approximately 09:25, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a house in Jabalya, where members of a Palestinian armed groups were hiding. The house was destroyed and 2 members of the group were killed.
• At approximately 00:30 on Sunday, 03 August 2014, an Israeli drone fired 2 missiles at a tin-roofed house belonging to Jameel Yousef Abu al-Qumsan in Jabalya, to which a number of his relatives who were forcibly displaced resorted. As a result, 3 civilians, including 2 women, were killed: Jameela Jamal Wahdan, 28; Sanyoura Diab Wahdan, 22; and Hatem Zaki Wahdan, 52. Twelve others, including 4 children and 3 women, were wounded.
• At approximately 04:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to Mohammed ‘Abdullah ‘Awadh in Jabalya refugee camp. As a result, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded.
• At approximately 07:10, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a member of a Palestinian armed group in Zimmu area in Jabalya, killing him.
• At approximately 08:45, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a tin-roofed house belonging to ‘Abdul Rahman Mohammed al-Sherafi in Jabalya. As a result, al-Sherafi’s wife Najah Rajab al-Sherafi, 48; his child Rajab, 9; and his nephew Mahmoud ‘Abdullah al-Sherafi, 25, were killed. Three members of the family, including a child, were also wounded.
• Israeli warplanes targeted and destroyed 10 Palestinian houses.

Gaza City:

Israeli warplanes launched a number of airstrikes that targeted a house, agricultural plots, open areas, and offices of a company, while Israeli tanks and gunboats fired dozens of shells at the city. As a result of these attacks, 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were killed, and 9 others, including 3 children and a woman, were wounded. A Palestinian civilian died of previous wounds.

The most significant attacks were as follows:

• At approximately 13:00 on Saturday, 02 August 2014, an Israeli artillery shell hit a house belonging to Hamdi Mohammed ‘Ayad, 56, in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the southeast of Gaza City. ‘Ayad and his son, Shadi, 25, were killed.
• At approximately 02:30 on Sunday, 03 August 2014, medical sources declared that Ahmed Mohammed Abu Hain, 32, died of wounds he had sustained on 23 July 2014, when Israeli forces shelled his houses in al-Shuja’iya neighborhood.
• At approximately 06:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at Sheikh Radwan Cemetery in the north of Gaza City. As a result, Nasrallah Yousef al-Masri, 22, was killed when he was near his house in the area.
• At approximately 06:40, an Israeli warplanes launched a missile at offices of al-Multazem Insurance Company on the ground floor of Mushtaha building at Ansar intersection in the west of Gaza City. The building and 3 cars belonging to news agencies were extensively damaged.

The Central Gaza Strip:

Israeli warplanes launched 9 airstrikes and tanks fired dozens of shells at houses and civilians. As a result of these attacks, 16 Palestinians, 13 of whom are civilians, including 6 children and 2 women, were killed, and 51 others, including 25 children and 11 women, were wounded. Additionally, Israeli warplanes targeted 6 houses and destroyed 4 of them.

The most significant attacks were as follows:

• At approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 02 August 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at 3 members of a Palestinian armed group in al-Maghazi refugee camp killing them.
• At approximately 14:10, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a 3-storey house belonging to Yousef Dawod Abu Madi, in which 21 people live, in al-Nussairat refugee camp. As a result, Abu Madi; 3 of his sons: Ameen, 12; Hassan, 17; and ‘Abdul Karim, 24; and 2 of his grandchildren: Yousef Shadi Abu Madi, 7, and his sister Hala, 10 days, were killed. Ten members of the family, including 4 women and 3 children, were wounded.
• At approximately 18:40, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a 3-storey house belonging to ‘Abdul Majed Suleiman Fayad, in which 11 people live, in Deir al-Balah. The house was partially destroyed.
• At approximately 20:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a 2-storey house belonging to Hamed al-Houli, in which 15 people live, in Deir al-Balah. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.
• At approximately 01:15 on Sunday, 03 August 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a 3-storey house belonging to Ameen Helmi Abu Dalal, in which 21 people live, in al-Nussairat refugee camp. The house was partially destroyed.
• At approximately 01:30, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a 4-storey house belonging to Mahmoud Mohammed Khattab, in which 40 people live, in Deir al-Balah. The house was destroyed.
• At approximately 06:300, Israeli warplanes launched 2 missiles at a 2-storey house belonging to ‘Atwa Suleiman Khattab, in which 25 people live, in Deir al-Balah. The house was destroyed, and Khattab; 2 of his sons: Mohammed, 24; and Suleiman, 25; his daughter-in-law Nivin Suleiman al-‘Attar, 24; Ameera Ahmed Khattab, 55; and Rimas Salem al-‘Attar, 5, a neighbor, were killed.
• At approximately 08:30, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a number of Palestinian children in Heker al-Jame’ area in the south of Deir al-Balah. As a result, 15 children were wounded. One of them, Tariq ‘Eid Abu Mashi, 12, died of his wound an hour later.

Khan Yunis:

Israeli warplanes launched a number of airstrikes and tanks and gunboats fired dozens of shells at Palestinian civilians and property in Khan Yunis. As a result of these attacks, 7 Palestinians, 5 of whom are civilians, including a man and his son, were killed. Additionally, 110 Palestinian, including 24 children and 32 women, some of whom from Rafah, were evacuated to Nasser Hospital in Kahn Yunis, as they were wounded by Israeli attacks. Deaths of 14 Palestinians, 8 of whom are civilians, including an old woman, a man and his 2 sons, by Israeli forces, in Khuza’a village were confirmed. Israeli warplanes bombarded 5 houses. Israeli forces redeployed in the eastern villages of Khan Yunis. A PCHR field worker who visited these areas reported that he was unprecedented destruction to civilian property, especially in Khuza’a village and al-Farrahin area in ‘Abassan village. Some neighborhoods and the civilian infrastructure were completely destroyed.

The most significant attacks were as follows:

• At approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 02 August 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a 3-storey house belonging to Nader Hafez al-Shourbaji. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at the house and destroyed it.
• At approximately 15:00, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a house belonging to the Esleem family in al-Qarara village. The house was destroyed and 2 Palestinian civilians were killed: Jum’a ‘Abdullah Esleem, 34; and Tawfiq Khalil Esleem, 21.
• At approximately 15:00, an Israeli drone fired 2 missiles at a house belonging to Saleem Mohammed al-Astal, in which 12 people live, in al-Satar al-Gharbi area. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it. A member of the family was wounded.
• At approximately 15:30, an Israeli drone fired 2 missiles at a 2-storey house belonging to Rafe’ Salah Salama, in al-Amal neighborhood. The house, which was bombarded on 09 July 2014, was destroyed. Four Palestinian civilians were wounded.
• In the evening, following Israeli forces’ redeployment in Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis, medical crews recovered bodies of 13 Palestinians, 7 of whom are civilians, including an old woman, a man and his 2 sons. The civilian victims were identified as: Salma Salman Radwan, 82; Ahmed Mohammed Abu Rujaila; Mahmoud Ahmed Abu Rujaila; Mohammed Ahmed Abu Rujaila; Adham Suleiman Qudaih; Ismail Hassan Abu Rujaila; Ibrahim Talal Kaware’, 29.
• At approximately 17:30, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to Helmi al-‘Abadla in al-Qarara village. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it. Four Palestinian civilians were wounded. It should be noted that an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house on 09 July 2014, but it did not explode.
• At approximately 20:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a motor cart that was traveling on Bani Suhaila ‘Abassan village. A number of Palestinians who were traveling on the cart were wounded. Soon after, a civilian car arrived at the area and started evacuating the wounded. Immediately, the Israeli drone fired another missile at the car. As a result, 4 Palestinians were killed: Kamal Ibrahim Abu Tair, 46; his son Ahmed, 19; Nabeel Hassan al-Najjar, 18; and a member of an armed group.
• In the evening, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a motorbike in al-Zanna area. As a result, a member of a Palestinian armed group who was riding the motorbike was killed.
  Rafah:
  مع أفراد المقاومة. هذا وتواصل قوات الاحتلال جرائم حربها في المحافظة وتقوم بدك المنازل فوق رؤوس قاطنيها، مما ادى إلى مقتل عائلات بأكملها. واستكمالا لتلك الجرائم فقد كانت أبرز تلك الاعتداءات على مدار الاربع والعشرون ساعة الماضية، وفقا لما استطاع الباحث الميداني للمركز من توثيقه والتأكد من صحة بياناته، على النحو التالي:
• القتلى 45 مواطناً، 40 منهم من المدنيين العزل، من بينهم 10 أطفال و7 نساء
• انتشال 31 جثة، 29 منهم من المدنيين العزل، من بينهم 10 أطفال و6 نساء.
• إصابة 50 مواطنا آخرين بجراح، من بينهم 21 طفل و7 نساء.

Since Friday morning, 01 August 2014, Israeli forces have committed unprecedented crimes in Rafah, claiming that an Israeli soldier was kidnapped in the southeast of Rafah, during the humanitarian truce that were declared at midnight. Israel admitted this morning that the soldier was killed in clashes with Palestinian armed groups. Israeli warplanes bombarded houses without prior warning, which constitutes an act of reprisal against the civilian population. As a result of these attacks, 45 Palestinians, 40 are civilians, including 10 children and 7 women, were killed. Bodies of 31 Palestinians, 29 of whom are civilians, were recovered. Fifty civilians, including 21 children and 7 women, were also wounded.

The most significant attacks were as follows:

• At approximately 10:30 on Saturday, 02 August 2014, rescue teams were able to recover bodies of 31 Palestinians, including 10 children, 6 women and 2 members of Palestinian armed groups, who were killed by the Israeli shelling on Friday, 01 August 2014. Additionally, the identities of 7 victims, including a child and a woman, in the morgue of Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital.
• At approximately 11:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at ‘Emad Nassim Siam, 17, when he was near his family’s house that was destroyed by Israeli forces a few days ago in al-Mawasi area in the west of Rafah. The child was instantly killed.
• At approximately 11:30, an Israeli drone fired 2 missiles at house belonging to Mohammed ‘Amira al-‘Arjani in al-Hashash neighborhood in the north of Rafah. Six residents of the house were killed. The victim have not been identified.
• At approximately 12:10, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to Mohammed Abu ‘Ouda in the Swedish village in the west of Rafah. The house was partially destroyed.
• At approximately 13:00, medical sources declared that Na’el Khaled al-‘Aaloul, 25, died of wounds he sustained when an Israeli warplane attacked a motorbike on which he was traveling together with his brother Khaled, 35, who was instantly killed. ‘Emad Ahmed Shawqi Ahmed, 16, was also killed in the attack.
• At approximately 13:45, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a house belonging to Ahmed Swailem al-Roumi, 52, in al-Hashash neighborhood in the north of Rafah. The house was destroyed, and al-Roumi and 3 of his sons: ‘Abdul Rahman, 18; Ameen, 15; and Somoud, 5, were killed, and his wife and 2 of his sons were wounded.
• At approximately 15:05, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a house belonging to Mohammed ‘Ayad Abu Taha in al-Shaboura refugee camp in Rafah. As a result, Abu Taha’s wife Sa’diya Rezeq Abu Taha, 45; her grandchild Reze Ismail Abu Taha, 1; and her nephews Mohammed and Youseg Mahmoud Abu Taha, 24 and 16 respectively, were killed. Three civilians were also wounded. The house was partially destroyed.
• At approximately 15:55, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at an uninhabited house belonging to Jaber Mohammed al-‘Aaidi in al-Junaina neighborhood. The house was destroyed.
• At approximately 16:10, an Israeli drone fired 2 missiles at a house belonging to Tamer ‘Aziz al-Sarsak, 22, in al-Shaboura refugee camp. Al-Sarsak and his brother Mohammed, 18, were wounded, and the house was partially destroyed.
• At approximately 16:40, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a house belonging to Mohammed ‘Ouda al-Nahhal, in which 7 people live, in Kherbat al-‘Adas neighborhood in the north of Rafah. The house was destroyed, and al-Nahhal’s son, As’ad, 25, was wounded.
• At approximately 17:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a number of Palestinian civilians in al-Tannour neighborhood in the southeast of Rafah. Five civilians were killed: Mohammed Hassan Qishta, 20; Ahmed Eshtaiwi Qishta, 20; Mahmoud Khader Qishta, 25; Mohammed Mosa’ed Qeshta, 37; and ‘Abed Na’im Qeshta, 18.
• At approximately 17:20, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at al-Bahaisa family council in al-Salam neighborhood in the south of Rafah, and destroyed it. As a result, 5 brothers and their nephew were killed: Salma Hussein al-Bahaisa, 50; Ahmed Hussein al-Bahaisa, 45; Fawaz Hussein al-Bahaisa, 55; Saleem Hussein al-Bahaisa, 30; Jum’a Hussein al-Bahaisa, 40; and Suhaib Shu’aib al-Bahaisa, 25.
• At approximately 18:00, an Israeli drone launched a missile at a number of Palestinian civilians near Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in al-Junaina neighborhood. As a result, 4 civilians were killed: Mohammed Nidal al-Nims, 17; Hazem Mohammed al-Nims, 23; Yahia Yousef al-Nims, 30; and Hussam Anwar Abu Nqaira, 26. Four others were also wounded.
• At approximately 02:00 on Sunday, 03 August 2014, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a house belonging to the family of ‘Eissa Mohammed al-Sha’er, 28, a member of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad), in al-Junaina neighborhood in Rafah. The house was destroyed, and al-Sha’er and another activist were killed. Eight civilians were also wounded.
• At approximately 02:05, Israeli warplanes launched a missile at a house belonging to the family of Mohammed ‘Awad Abu Jazar, a member of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) and a house belonging to his relative, Mohammed ‘Abdullah Abu Jazar near al-‘Awda Square in the center of Rafah. The two houses were destroyed, and the former’ wife Amani Mohammed Abu Jazar, 23; and his 2 children: Feras, 3; and Ameera, 2, and he himself was seriously wounded.
• At approximately 02:35, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a member of a Palestinian armed group in al-Furqan neighborhood in the west of Rafah. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched another missile at the same area. As a result, the armed group member was killed, 15 civilians were wounded and 4 houses were destroyed.
• At approximately 06:45, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a house belonging to Ismail al-Ghould, 63, in Yebna refugee camp in the south of Rafah. The house was destroyed, and al-Ghoul; his wife Khadra, 60; his daughters: Hanadi, 25; and Asmaa’, 23; his son Wa’el, 40; his grandchildren: Mustafa, 1 months; and Malak, 6; and his son Mohammed, 42, were killed. Seven civilians were also wounded.
• At approximately 07:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at ‘Awadh Ghanem al-Masri, 43, when he was on his agricultural plot in al-Mawasi area in the west of Rafah. He was instantly killed.
• At approximately 07:30, an Israeli drone fired 2 missiles at a house belonging to Mohammed Ejmai’an Abu Shallouf, 42, in al-Mawasi area in the west of Rafah. As a result, Abu Shallouf and his wife, Khitam Jum’a Abu Shallouf, 37, were killed, and 4 of their children were wounded.
• At approximately 09:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at Elham Mohammed ‘Oukal, 32, when she was cooking in the yard of her house in ‘Oukal area in the north of Rafah. She was instantly killed. A few minutes later, the Israeli drone fired another missile at a number of her relatives who attempted to evacuate her to the hospital. As a result, 3 relatives were killed: Turkiya Mahmoud ‘Oukal, 60; Mohammed As’ad ‘Oukal, 18; and Mahmoud Mohammed ‘Oukal.
• At approximately 09:10, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at an agricultural plot near al-Mo’mineen Mosque in al-Junaina neighborhood in Rafah. As a result, 2 Palestinian civilians were killed: Salam Nasser Jebara, 53; and Ayman Nabeel al-Sha’er, 24.

PCHR reiterates condemnation, expresses utmost concern for these crimes, and:

1) Warns of deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip in light of this continuous Israeli military escalation, threats to expand military operations, and the continued tightened closure of the Gaza Strip;
2) Calls upon the international community to act immediately to stop these crimes, and renews the call to the High Contracting Parties of the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligation under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure that it is respected at all times, and their responsibilities under Article 146 to pursue perpetrators of serious violations of the Convention, which are determined in Article 147, which lists violations of the Convention amounting to war crimes; and
3) Calls for establishing a UN fact-finding mission to investigate suspected war crimes committed by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, and take necessary steps to prosecute responsible for them.