On the 11th Day of the Israeli Offensive: Israeli Forces Launch Ground Operation in the Gaza Strip Covered by Unprecedented Shelling; Dozens of Palestinian Civilians Killed or Wounded
Ref:
89/2014
Since the Beginning of the Israeli Offensive on Gaza:
250 Palestinians Killed, of Whom 206
Are Civilians, Including 54 Children and 34 Women, and 1,726 Others Wounded,
Mostly Civilians, Including 526 Children and 349 Women;
333 Houses Targeted and Destroyed and Hundreds of Others Extensively Damaged
Thousands of Palestinian Civilians
Forcibly Displaced
Israeli occupation forces have
continued their brutal and immoral offensive on the Gaza Strip for the 8th
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,
including houses and mosques. Last
night, the Israeli government declared launching a ground operation in the Gaza
Strip. In effect, Israeli forces moved
hundreds of meters into Palestinian areas located along the border between the
Gaza Strip and Israel, amidst unprecedented shelling. Israeli warplanes supported these
incursions. Israeli forces threatened
Palestinian civilians of destroying their homes over their head if they stay in
these areas. Hundreds of Palestinian
civilians were forcibly displaced from these areas, reminding of the tragedy of
1948. Those who were not able to leave
these areas have trapped under the Israeli tank shelling, and the International
Committee of the Red Cross has not been able to attend them. Overnight, dozens of artillery and smoke
shells were fired at these areas, unleashing bad smells that caused suffocation
and fainting for many civilians and medical crews.
Due to the indiscriminate and
intense Israeli shelling, several public and service institutions, including
municipalities, have suspended their activities, as 3 municipalities workers
were killed in Rafah al-Boreij. This
decision will lead to a real crisis in regards to providing drinking water,
cleaning and sanitation. Additionally,
more than one third of the Gaza Strip’s population lack electricity supplies as
Israeli forces damaged major electricity lines and obstructed their
repair.
From 10:00 on Thursday, 17 July 2014
to 10:00 on Friday, 18 July 2014, 29 Palestinians, 27 of whom are civilians,
including 9 children and 2 women, were killed. Additionally, 268
Palestinians, mostly civilians, were wounded – this number includes 94 children
and 51 women. Israeli warplanes also targeted and destroyed 21 houses.
The latest developments since the
press release issued by PCHR yesterday noon have been as follows:
The Northern Gaza Strip:
Israeli
warplanes launched 28 airstrikes and Israeli tanks and gunboats fired dozens of
shells targeting houses, agricultural plots, open areas and a mosque. As
a result of these attacks, 3 Palestinian civilians, including a woman, were
killed, and 119 others, including 45 children and 23 women, were wounded. Additionally,
Israeli warplanes targeted 5 houses and destroyed 3 of them.
The
most significant attacks were as follows:
– At
approximately 19:00 on Thursday, 17 July 2014, an Israeli artillery shell hit
Hayel Abdul Hamid School in Beit Hanoun.
Fire broke out in the third floor and the building was damaged.
– At
approximately 21:00, an Israeli artillery shell hit a house belonging to ‘Abdul
Nasser Dabbour in the north of Beit Hanoun.
As a result, Dabbour’s wife, Amal Khader Ibrahim Dabbour, 41, was
killed, and the house was damaged.
– At
approximately 21:50, an Israeli artillery shell landed near a house belonging
to Ra’fat al-Za’anin in Beit Hanoud. As
a result, 7 members of the family suffered severe suffocation.
– At
approximately 22:40, an Israeli artillery shell hit a house belonging to Hamdi
Khader Obaid in the north of Beit Hanoun.
As a result, 21 members of the family were wounded, including 7 ones who
sustained serious wounds. The house was
also damaged.
– At
approximately 01:00 on Friday, 18 July 2014, an Israeli artillery shell hit a
house belonging to Mahmoud Hussein Nussair in the north of Beit Hanoun. As a result, 2 of Nussair’s sons were killed:
Nassim, 32; and Karam, 31. A third son,
Mohammed, 26, was also wounded, and the house was damaged.
– At
approximately 02:20, an Israeli warplane launched a missile belonging to the
Shubair family in the east of Jabalya.
The house was totally destroyed.
– At
approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Um al-Nasser village, north of
Beit Lahia. According to local sources,
Israeli forces arrested at least 8 Palestinians.
– At
approximately 09:20, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to
the al-Salawi family in al-Saftawi neighborhood. The house was damaged.
– On
Thursday morning, 17 July 2014, Israeli warplanes bombarded a 2-storey house
belonging to Dr. Majdi Jameel Shaqqura, the French Consul in Gaza, near
al-Nawras Resort in the southwest of Beit Lahia. The house was completely destroyed. Shaqqura and his family were not in the house
when it was bombarded.
House belonging to Dr. Majdi Jameel Shaqqura, the French Consul in Gaza
Gaza City:
Israeli warplanes launched 15 airstrikes and Israeli
gunboats and tanks fired shells targeting houses, civilians, agricultural lands,
open areas and al-Wafaa’ Hospital. As a result of these attacks, 7 Palestinian
civilians, including 5 children, were killed, and 20 others, including 9
children, 3 women and a journalist, were wounded. Additionally, 2 houses were destroyed and 2
flats were damaged.
The most significant attacks were as follows:
– At
approximately 16:00 on Thursday, 17 July 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile
at a house belonging to Khaled Mohammed Muhaisen in al-Shuja’iya neighborhood
in the east of Gaza City. A few minutes
later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.
– At
approximately 17:10, an Israeli drone fired a missile at the roof of a house
belonging to the sons of Marzouq Mohammed Shuhaiber, where 5 children from the
family were feeding birds. As a result
of the attack, 3 children were instantly killed: Jihad and Wissam ‘Essam
Marzouq Shuhaiber, 10 and 8 respectively; and Afnan Wissam Marzouq Shuhaiber,
8. The other two children were seriously
wounded.
– At
approximately 20:40, Israeli tanks fired dozens of shells at al-Sha’af
neighborhood in the east of Gaza City.
One of the shells hit a house belonging to ‘Abed ‘Ali ‘Abdul ‘Aal
Entaiz. As a result, 3 members of the
family, including 2 children, were killed: ‘Abed ‘Ali ‘Abdul ‘Aal Entaiz, 24;
Mohammed Ibrahim Entaiz, 13; and Mohammed Salem Ibrahim Entaiz, 2. Another 4 members of the family, including a
child and 2 women, were wounded.
– At
approximately 01:00 on Friday, 18 July 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile
at a 2-storey house belonging to Hamada Jaber Habib in al-Mughrabi Street. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane
launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.
– At
approximately 03:30, Israeli warplanes launched 3 missiles at the 1st
and 15th floors and a store of the Customs Authority in Dawod building
in al-Remal neighborhood. The building
was damaged.
– At approximately 04:00, an Israeli artillery
shell hit a house belonging to Saqer Mansour Abu Tawila in al-Shuja’iya
neighborhood in the east of Gaza City.
As a result, Abu Tawila’s son, Rami, 47, was killed. Three members of the family, including a
child, were also wounded.
– At
approximately 07:00, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at an engineering
office belonging to the Abu Ras family in al-Jawhara building. The office was extensively damaged. As a
result, Mohammed Ahmed Shabat, 45, a journalist, was lightly wounded. It should
be noted that there are 13 media institutions based in the building.
The Central Gaza Strip:
Israeli warplanes launched 10 airstrikes and tanks fired
dozens of shells targeting houses, agricultural lands and open areas. As a result of these attacks, a Palestinian
civilian was killed, and 25 others, including 4 women and 7 children, were
wounded. A house was destroyed and another one was damaged.
The most significant attacks were as
follows:
– At
approximately 13:00 on Thursday, 17 July 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile
at a 2-storey house belonging to Nidal Mohammed Noufal, in which 25 people
live, in al-Nussairat refugee camp. As a
result, Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were wounded.
– At
approximately 19:50, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to
Musallam ‘Abdul Karim ‘Eissa, in which 20 people live, in Juhor al-Dik
village. A few minutes later, an Israeli
warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it. As a result, ‘Eissa’s son, Hussam, 28, was
killed, and his brother was seriously wounded.
– At
approximately 20:00, Israeli tanks fired dozens of shells at the east of the
central Gaza Strip. A number of
Palestinian civilians were wounded and ssome houses were damaged.
– At
approximately 22:00, an Israeli artillery shell hit a house belonging to Yousef
Ahmed Mughassib in Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah. As a result, 4 members of the family (2
children and 2 women) were wounded.
Khan Yunis:
Israeli warplanes launched 51 airstrikes targeting houses, agricultural
plots, open areas, security sites and a mosque in the southern Gaza Strip town
of Khan Yunis. Israeli tanks and gunboats also fired dozens of shells at
agricultural and open areas. As a result, 12 Palestinians, including a
child and a member of an armed group, were killed, and 45 others, including 12
children and 8 women, were wounded. These
figures include 9 Palestinian who were killed and 29 others were wounded during
an Israeli incursion into al-Qarara village and al-Zanna area. Israeli warplanes also targeted 4 houses and
destroyed 3 of them. They also bombarded
a poultry farm. Overnight, dozens of artillery and smoke shells were fired at
these areas, unleashing bad smells that caused suffocation and fainting for
many civilians and medical crews.
The most significant attacks were as follows:
– At
approximately 16:55 on Thursday, 17 July 2014, Israeli warplanes launched 3
airstrikes on a poultry farm belonging to the ‘Abdul Ghafour family in
al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis.
The farm was destroyed, but no casualties were reported.
– At
approximately 18:00, Israeli warplanes dropped thousands of flyers over the
eastern areas of Khan Yunis ordering the inhabitants of Khuza’a, ‘Abassan and
Bani Suhaila to leave their homes and move towards the center of the town.
– At
approximately 18:10, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to
Ibrahim Abu ‘Eid in ‘Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis. The house was damaged and members of the
family were forced to evacuate it.
– At
approximately 18:15, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to
al-‘Abadla family in al-Qarara village.
As a result, Hamza Hassan ‘Ali al-‘Abadla, 29, a member of a Palestinian
armed group, was killed.
– At
approximately 18:20, an Israeli drone fired a missile at 2 Palestinian children
who were playing in the yard of their family’s house in al-Manara neighborhood
in the south of Khan Yunis. As a result,
Rahaf Khalil Hamada al-Jbour, 4, was killed, and her brother, 6-year-old
Hamada, was wounded.
– Also
at approximately 18:20, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the office of
the Customs Authority in Khan Yunis. A
Palestinian civilian was wounded.
– At
approximately 19:50, Israeli warplanes launched 10 airstrikes on agricultural
lands in al-Qarara, al-Zanna and ‘Abassan areas, damaging them.
– At
approximately 20:00, Israeli tanks positioned at the border between the Gaza
Strip and Israel, east of Khan Yunis, fired dozens of shells at Palestinian
areas near the border. As a result, 6
Palestinian civilians were wounded. The
tank shelling was intensified at 22:00, when the Israeli government declared
launching a ground operation in the Gaza Strip.
– At
approximately 22:20, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a house
belonging to Khaled al-Sinwar in al-Qarara village, northwest of Khan
Yunis. The house was extensively
damaged.
– At
approximately 22:35, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the campus of
the University College of Applied Sciences in the west of Khan Yunis. As a result, Salah Saleh Ramadan al-Shaf’ei,
24, was killed, and another one was wounded.
Both of them are service works in the college.
– Shortly
before midnight, Israeli tanks positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip
and Israel fired dozens of artillery and smoke shells at all villages to the
east of Khan Yunis. In the meantime,
Israeli forces were moving into the east of al-Qarara village. The shells fired
by Israeli forces unleashed bad
smells that caused suffocation and fainting for many civilians and medical
crews. Hundreds of Palestinian
civilians were also forced to leave their homes in the affected areas. They resorted to mosques, schools and
relatives.
– At
approximately 00:10 on Friday, 18 July 2014, Israeli warplanes launched 5
airstrikes at Asdaa’ City and Khan Yunis Central Prison in the west of Khan
Yunis.
– At
approximately 02:10, an Israeli drone fired a missile at al-Mawasi area in the
west of Khan Yunis. As a result, 3
Palestinian civilians were wounded.
– In
the meantime, Israeli forces moved hundreds of meters into al-Zanna area. They took positions atop a number of
houses. Armed clashes erupted between
them and members of Palestinian armed groups.
– At
approximately 03:00, Israeli warplanes launched several missiles at Abu Radwan
quarter in al-Zanna area in Banil Suhaila village, east of Khan Yunis. As a result, 4 members of the Radwan family
were seriously wounded. Medical crews
were not able to attend him because of the intensive shelling, so the 4
civilians bled to death. They were
identified as: Ahmed and Mahmoud Fawzi Radwan, 23 and 24; Bilal Mahmoud Radwan,
23; and Munther Nabil Radwan, 22.
– For
4 hours starting from 03:30, Israeli warplanes launched at least 15 airstrikes
at al-Zanna area in Bani Suhaila and al-Qarara villages, east of Khan Yunis,
while tanks intensively shelled the area.
As a result, 5 Palestinian civilians were killed: Hammad ‘Abdul Karim
Hammad Abu Lihya, 23; Mohammed ‘Abdul Fattah Rashad Fayad, 26; Mahmoud Mohammed
Fayad, 25; Hani As’ad ‘Abdul Karim al-Shami, 35; and Mohammed Hamdan ‘Abdul
Karim al-Shami, 35. Another 29
civilians, including 8 women, were wounded.
According to local sources, Israeli warplanes bombarded and destroyed 2
houses in ‘Abdul Ghafour area in al-Qarara village.
Rafah:
Israeli warplanes launched 46 airstrikes and Israeli tanks
and gunboats fired dozens of shells targeting houses, agricultural lands and open
areas in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. As a result, 6
Palestinians, including 5 civilians, were killed, and 79 others, including 21
children and 13 women, were wounded. Seven houses were destroyed.
The
most significant attacks were as follows:
– At
approximately 13:00 on Thursday, 17 July 2014, Israeli tanks positioned at the
border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, southeast of Rafah, fired dozens of
shells at the debris of Gaza International Airport and houses in al-Nahda
neighborhood and al-Shouka village.
Dozens of families were forced to leave their homes.
– At
approximately 18:10, Israeli warplanes dropped flyers on Rafah ordering residents
of al-Shaboura refugee camp, Tal al-Sultan neighborhood and al-Dehniya village
to leave their homes and move towards the south of Rafah, allegedly for their
safety.
– At
approximately 18:55, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to
Ussama Abu Taha in al-Brazil neighborhood in the south of Rafah. A few minutes
later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed
it. As a result, Mukhles Jaber
al-Loulahi, 4, was wounded.
– At
approximately 19:20, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to
Salem Shihda Siam, in which 10 people live, in al-Shaboura refugee camp in
Rafah. A few minutes later, an Israeli
warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it. A number of nearby houses were damaged. Before the attack, Israeli forces phoned
Siam’s son to evacuate the house.
– From
20:20 to 00:00, Israeli tanks positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip
and Israel, southeast of Rafah, fired dozens of shells at the debris of Gaza
International Airport and houses in al-Nahda neighborhood and al-Shouka
village. Palestinian civilians called ambulances and civil defense crews to
evacuate them from these areas.
– At
approximately 20:25, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to
Nazmi Selmi Shallouf, in which 7 people live, in al-Shouka village, southeast
of Rafah. A few minutes later, an
Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.
– At
approximately 21:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to
Ismail Mahmoud ‘Abdul ‘Aal, in which 15 people live, in Tabbat Zare’
neighborhood in the east of Rafah. A few
minutes later, Israeli warplanes launched 2 missiles at the house and destroyed
it. As a result, the owner’s child,
4-month-old Malak, was wounded. A number
of nearby houses were also damaged.
– At
approximately 22:15, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a 3-storey house
belonging to Mohammed Sameer al-Jazzar in al-Brazil neighborhood in the south
of Rafah. A few minutes later, an
Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it. A nearby
house belonging to the family was also destroyed. A number of houses in the
area were also damaged.
– At
approximately 23:55, medical crews were able to evacuated bodies of 3
Palestinian civilians who were killed and 20 other civilians who were wounded
by the intensive Israeli tank shelling of houses near the Gaza International
Airport, and in al-Shouka and al-Nasser villages, east and north of Rafah
respectively. The victims were
identified as: Majdi Suleiman Jebara, 22; Fares Jum’a al-Tarabin, 3 months; and
‘Omar ‘Eid al-Mahmoum, 17. Two hours
later, ambulances evacuated the body of Selmiya Suleiman Abu Ghayad, 70, who
was hit by shrapnel when Israeli tanks shelled Gaza International Airport.
– At approximately
03:40 on Friday, 18 July 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house
belonging to Ahmed ‘Asfour Dwai’er in the center of Rafah. As a result, Hanan Ahmed Dwai’er, 41, was
wounded.
– At
approximately 04:05, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a house belonging
to Mohammed Ibrahim Zo’rob, 45, in al-Nasser village, north of Rafah, without a
prior warning. Zo’rob’s child,
11-year-old Siham, was killed, and 11 members of the family were wounded.
– At
approximately 06:10, medical crews found the body of Yasser Mohammed Madhi, 22,
a member of a Palestinian armed group, in Kherbat al-‘Adas neighborhood in the
north of Rafah. According to medical
sources, he was hit by shrapnel of an artillery shell.
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.
