Ref: 62/2021
Date: 15 May 2021
Time: 15:00 GMT
21 Palestinians Killed, Including 2 Women, 8 Children and Girl with Disability, and 113 Others Wounded, Including 33 Women and 36 Children,
Death Toll Rises to 143, Including 40 Children and 22 Women, and Total Number of Injures Mounts to 655, Including 194 Children and 154 Women
For the 6th consecutive day, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) escalated their offensive on the Gaza Strip, continued their indiscriminate and intense air, sea and land strikes as part of their collective punishment and retaliation policy. IOF targeted more residential buildings over its residents, massacring entire families, and destroyed the infrastructure in city centers and densely populated neighborhoods. They also targeted agricultural lands, governmental facilities and military sites belonging to Palestinian armed groups, rendering the Gaza Strip an unsafe zone.
The forced displacement of thousands of residents from their houses in eastern Gaza Strip continued due to the violent artillery shelling and the firing of smoke grenades which spread bad smells and caused nausea and eye irritation. On its 73rd anniversary, this scene reminded us of the Palestinian Nakba.
Further to PCHR’s press release published yesterday, Israeli warplanes carried out hundreds of airstrikes while the Israeli gunboats and artillery shelled various and indiscriminate targets in the Gaza Strip.
As a result, 21 Palestinians were killed, including 2 women and 9 children; one of them was a girl with disability. Among those killed were two brothers and 2 women and 8 of their children, whose house was destroyed over their heads. It should be noted there are still members of the two families under the rubble.
Moreover, 143 Palestinians, including 22 women and 40 children, were wounded. Additionally, 20 houses, 2 mosques, 9 civilian facilities, several governmental headquarters and military sites belonging to Palestinian armed groups were targeted.
Thus, the death toll since the beginning of the Israeli offensive has risen to 143, including 40 children and 22 women, and the number of those wounded has risen to 655, including 194 children and 154 women. According to the daily update by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the total number of injuries has risen to 1000, including 40 serious injuries. These large numbers of injuries have increased the burden on medical crews and the already exhausted healthcare system due to the Israeli-imposed closure and the outbreak of coronavirus in addition to the negative impact of power outage on the operation of laboratories, blood banks and surgeries, especially in light of the growing number of injuries.
The following are the most significant developments:
Northern Gaza:
Israeli warplanes carried out many airstrikes and Israeli artillery stationed along the border fence and gunboats stationed off shore fired many shells. As a result, 7 Palestinians, including 2 siblings and a girl, were killed while 11 others, including 2 children and 4 women, were wounded. Also, the airstrikes targeted a mosque, shops and 2 houses, which were both completely destroyed. Additionally, dozens of other houses, public roads and infrastructure sustained severe destruction.
At approximately 13:05 on Friday, 14 May 2021, Israeli warplanes fired 3 missiles at a 4-storey house belonging to the sons of Mohammed Mostafa Zarandah in Bir al-Na’jah area, west of Jabalia. As a result, the house was completely destroyed, but no casualties were reported.
At approximately 16:30, medical sources at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City announced the death of Mahmoud Mohammed Ahmed al-Madhoun (30), who lived to the east of Hala al-Shawa Clinic in Beit Lahia Housing Project, succumbing to wounds he sustained at approximately 13:00 on Wednesday, 12 May 2021, when a plot of land near his house was targeted. Al-Madhoun was hit with shrapnel in the left side of his head when he was in front of his house.
At approximately 18:30, Israeli warplanes fired 3 missiles at Shadi ‘Abed Rabbu’s house in ‘Izbet ‘Abed Rabbu in Jabalia. As a result, 6 civilians, including 3 women and 2 children, were wounded and taken to the Indonesian Hospital, where the injuries of 2 of them were described as serious while the rest injuries were moderate. Additionally, the house was completely destroyed.
At approximately 20:20 on the same day, the dead bodies of Ahmed “Mohammed al-Mahdi” Isma’il al-Neder (32) and Ahmed ‘Awad Mohammed al-Neder (36), from Jabalia, arrived at the Indonesian Hospital after Israeli warplanes targeted them at 10:05 on Jaffa Street in Jabalia.
At approximately 21:30, shrapnel of a missile fell on a house belonging to the sons of ‘Issa ‘Obaid on al-Nozhah Street in Jabalia. As a result, a girl with disability namely Buthaina Mahmoud ‘Issa ‘Obaid (6) was killed after being hit with shrapnel in the right side of her head when she was in front of her house.
At approximately 23:50, Israeli warplanes launched at least 15 missiles at ‘Abed al-Razeq Qlaibo Mosque and its surrounding near Qlaibo Hill in Beit Lahia. As a result, the mosque was completely destroyed. Five minutes later, the residents of the area thought that the targeted house belonged to Hatem al-Mansi, which is to the southern side of the mosque, so they ran to evacuate al-Mansi family members. When the residents arrived at al-Mansi’s house and entered it, an Israeli drone fired a missile at the house garden. As a result, 3 civilians, including 2 brothers, were killed while 5 others, including a woman, were injured. One of those injured sustained serious wounds. Those killed were identified as: Ahmed (34) and Yousef (22) Hatem Mahmoud al-Mansi (34) and Ahmed Mohammed ‘Abed al-‘Aziz Sabbah (28). Moreover, 4 houses near the targeted mosque from the western side, other nearby houses and electricity and communication networks sustained severe damage.
At approximately 11:25 on Saturday, 14 May 2021, Israeli warplanes fired 2 missiles at al-Hassoumi Shop for construction materials in al-Qar’ah al-Khamesah area in al-Salateen neighborhood in Beit Lahia. As a result, the shop sustained damage, but no casualties were reported.
On Friday evening and Saturday morning, Israeli gunboats and artillery fired dozens of shells at western and eastern areas of the governorate, but no casualties were reported.
Gaza City:
Israeli warplanes carried out dozens of airstrikes on various targets in the city. As a result, 11, including 2 women and their 8 children, were killed while 69 others, including 25 women and 31 children, were injured. Also, 5 multi-story residential buildings, Palestine Production Bank, the Ministry of Interior and National Security’s headquarter, the Maritime Police headquarters’ facilities, 4 civilian cars, many civilian facilities, and shops were targeted.
At approximately 13:00 on Friday, 14 May 2021, Israeli warplanes sporadically launched several missiles at facilities belonging to the Palestinian Naval Police at the fishermen seaport, west of Gaza. The airstrike continued until 06:00 on Saturday, 15 May 2021.
At approximately 17:15, warplanes launched 4 missiles at the Palestine Production Bank in Nour al-Dein building belonging to Hussam Fo’ad Mahmoud Nour al-Dein (56) on Izz al-Dein al-Qassam Street next to al-Shifa Hospital, west of Gaza. As a result, the 5-storey building (480 sqms), sheltered 5 families, was completely destroyed as the bank was located in the ground floor, and the nearby facilities, buildings and shops sustained severe damages.
At approximately 19:30, Israeli warplanes launched 6 missiles at the Ministry of Interior and National Security’s headquarter in Ansar Security Compound, west of Gaza. As a result, the compound was completely destroyed and the nearby buildings sustained severe damage. It should be noted that IOF targeted the same place the next day morning.
At approximately 20:00, Israeli warplanes launched 2 missiles at two apartments located in the southwestern side of the second and third floor in al-Rabi’a 6-storey building, which includes 5 residential apartments on an area of 800 sqms in central Gaza city. As a result, Abdullah Ashraf Abdullah Jouda (13) was killed in the second floor, and Adam Mohammed Subhy al-Far’awi (20), was killed in the third floor.
At approximately 01:00 on Saturday, 15 May 2021, Israeli warplanes launched 4 missiles at a residential building belonging to Abdul Shafi Khamis Ahmed al-Shobaki (62) near al-Sahabah Medical Complex in central Gaza City. As a result, the 4-storey building, which housed 8 apartments and sheltered 10 families, including 16 children and 5 women, was partially and severely destroyed as it was directly targeted. Moreover, 2 nearby buildings sustained severe damage. It should be noted that one of the residents received a phone call from the Israeli Intelligence Services to evacuate the area.
At approximately 01:30, Israeli warplanes launched 6 missiles at a 3-storey house (250 sqms) belonging to ‘Alaa Abdul ‘Aall Abu Hatab in al-Shati refugee camp, without informing its residents to evacuate. As a result, 9, including 2 women and 7 children, were killed and identified as: the house owner’s wife, Yasmine Mohammed Khamees Abu Hatab (31), and her 4 children, Yousef (11), Maryam (8), Belal (9) and Yamin (6), the house owner’s sister, Maha Mohammed Abdul ‘Aal Abu Hatab “al-Hadidi” (35), and 3 of her children, Osama (6), ‘Abdul Rahman and Suhaib (13) Mohammed Subhi al-Hadidi, while their 5-month old brother was moderately injured.
It should be noted that the Palestinian Civil Defense crews are still searching for missing persons under the rubble, as the airstrike caused severe destruction in the densely populated area.
At approximately 06:00, Israeli warplanes launched 5 missiles at al-Rawda “1” 5-storey building, in Tal al-Hawa towers, and targeted the first 3 floors from in northwestern side of the building. As a result, the departments were completely destroyed, while the rest of the building and nearby buildings sustained severe damage.
It should be noted that Israeli tanks and artillery stationed along the eastern borders and gunboats stationed off shore continued shelling sporadically at the eastern and western side of Gaza city, from 20:00 on Friday, until 06:00 on Saturday.
Central Gaza Strip:
Israeli warplanes carried out several airstrikes on different parts of the central Gaza Strip. They targeted houses, agricultural and vacant lands, and military sites. As a result, 6 houses were completely destroyed and dozens of houses near the targeted places sustained partial damage. Moreover, a person was killed, while 19 others were wounded, including 3 children and 4 women.
At approximately 13:40 on Friday, 14 May 2021, Israeli warplanes launched 5 missiles at a 2-storey house belonging to Ayman Nofal in al-Bureij refugee camp. As a result, the house was completely destroyed and the nearby houses sustained partial damage. Moreover, Mahmoud Mohammed Isma’el al-Khaldy (27) was killed when he was passing by. Also, 15, including 4 women and 2 children, were wounded and taken to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, where their injuries varied between minor to medium.
At approximately 13:45, Israeli warplanes launched 6 missiles at a 2-storey house (300sqms) belonging to Marwan Abdul Karim Issa, in al-Bureij refugee camp. As a result, the house was completely destroyed, nearby houses sustained damage and a person was injured.
At approximately 14:30, Israeli warplanes launched 2 missiles, one by a drone, at a house belonging to Mahmoud Abdul Hadi in al-Bureij refugee camp. As a result, the tinplate-roofed house of one floor (200sqms) and sheltering 3 families of 16 members, including 5 children and 2 women, was completely destroyed. Moreover, nearby houses and 6 shops sustained partial damage.
At approximately 15:30, Israeli drones launched a missile at a fishing boat in fishermen seaport, west of Deir al-Balah. As a result, the fishing boat was destroyed and on fire and fishing equipment and nets were damaged, but no casualties were reported.
At approximately 18:15, Israeli artillery fired shells at the civilian houses in eastern Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. Four shells fell on a 3-storey (140 sqms) house, which sheltered 3 families of 25 members, including 7 children and 4 women, belonging to Marwan Mohammed Abu Muhareb (51). As a result, the third floor sustained severe damage, but no casualties were reported. It should be noted that the residents evacuated their house after the shelling.
At approximately 19:00, Israeli artillery heavily fired shells at east of the Central Gaza Strip. A shell targeted a 2-storey house (130 sqms), which shelter a family of 6, including a woman and 7 children, belonging to Na’eem Sa’eed al-Louh (43), east of Deir al-Balah. As a result, the house sustained partial damage.
At approximately 19:10, Israeli warplanes launched 2 missiles, one by a drone, at a 2-storey house (180 sqms) belonging to Mohammed Qatamish in al-Maghazi refugee camp. As a result, 3 persons, including a child, were wounded and the house sustained partial damage.
At approximately 00:20 on Saturday, 15 May 2021, Israeli warplanes launched 4 missiles at a 3-storey house (300 sqms), which sheltered 6 families of 30 members, most of them are children and women, belonging to Abdul Karim Ali Issa. As a result, the house sustained severe damage and might collapse while nearby houses and a mosque sustained partial damage.
At approximately 04:00, an Israeli drone launched a missile at Hasan Ahmed al-Maqadma’s house in al-Bureij refugee camp. After 30 minutes, Israeli warplanes launched 4 missiles at the house. As a result, the 3-storey house (140 sqms), which sheltered 3 families of 15 members;
most of them are women and children, was completely destroyed, and nearby houses sustained partial damage
Around the same time, Israeli warplanes launched a missile at the Traffic Police Station in Deir al-Balah, causing damage to it, but no casualties were reported.
Khan Younis:
IOF carried out several airstrikes across the City targeting 5 houses and completely destroying it. Moreover, many nearby houses, lands and military sites belonging to the Palestinian armed groups sustained damage. Meanwhile, the Israeli artillery violently shelled the eastern side of the City. As a result, a Palestinian was killed and 14 others were wounded.
At approximately 12:10 on Friday, 14 May 2021, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to ‘Omer Jihad Ahmed al-Astal (26) in the Satar al-Gharbi neighborhood in Khan Younis. Five minutes later, Israeli warplanes fired 4 missiles at the ground floor house, which sheltered a family of 3, and the nearby land. As a result, the house was completely destroyed while the nearby 2-story house of his father, Jihad Ahmed Fayez al-Astal, was almost completely destroyed as it sheltered 2 families of 9. Moreover, a nearby house sustained damage, noting that half an hour before the airstrike, IOF called one of the family members and asked him to evacuate his house and tell the neighbors to evacuate as well.
At approximately 16:28, an Israeli drone launched a missile at a house belonging to Mazen Shubeir, west of the Islamic Complex in Khan Younis. Few minutes later, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a land next to the house, causing a hole in the ground and damage to nearby houses. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 18:50, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to Ziad ‘Abdel ‘Aziz Abu Shaqrah in al-Sheikh Naser neighborhood in Khan Younis. Few minutes later, Israeli warplanes launched a missile at a one-story house (360 sqms) and completely destroyed it. As a result, nearby houses sustained damage, and 7 civilians were injured due to the shattering rubble. It should be noted that half an hour before the airstrike, IOF called
residents of the area to tell the residents of the house and nearby houses to evacuate. The house sheltered a family of 7, including 2 women and 3 children.
At approximately 19:00, IOF stationed along the border fence in eastern Khan Younis fired shells at al-Zannah, ‘Abasan al-Jadidah and Khuza’ah areas in eastern Khan Younis. The shelling sporadically continued until the evening, and some shells fell in the center of the neighborhoods. No casualties were reported.
to inform him to evacuate the houses. The targeted house was 130 sqms and sheltered 4 families of 20, including 5 women and 10 children.
At approximately 20:10, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a group of citizens in ‘Abasan al-Kabirah in eastern Khan Younis. As a result, Walid Zuhair Mohammed Abu Shab (23), from Bani Suheila, was killed while another was wounded. Both were taken to Naser Hospital.
At approximately 22:00, Israeli gunboats fired shells off Khan Younis shore, causing severe destruction to the coffee shops there. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 02:00, IOF’s tanks fired tens of smoke grenades at eastern Khan Younis, particularly at al-Qararah, making a fog that headed to the west. The residents of the area suffered eye irritation and nausea due to the smoke inhalation.
At approximately 11:22 on Saturday, 15 May 2021, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to Taysir al-Mubasher in the Emirati neighborhood in western Khan Younis. Few minutes later, Israeli warplanes fired a missile at the 2-storey house and completely destroyed it, causing partial damage to the nearby houses.
Rafah:
Israeli warplanes carried out several airstrikes on different targets across Rafah City; during which, 10 missiles were launched. As a result, a Palestinian was killed. The airstrikes targeted 2 houses, a mosque, shops, 3 poultry farms, a car, a motorbike, a Palestinian Navy boat and a military site belonging to the Palestinian armed groups. Moreover, the Israeli artillery sporadically shelled at al-Shokah in eastern Rafah, forcing dozens of families to leave their houses.
At approximately 14:20 on Friday, 14 May 2021, Israeli warplanes fired a missile at a motorbike on al-‘Oroubah Street in al-Tannour neighborhood. As a result, the motorbike’s driver Mousa Ghaleb Ibrahim Madi (25) was killed.
At approximately 15:30, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to Suheil ‘Abdel Jabbar Jaber al-Qotati in al-Barahmah neighborhood. Five minutes later, Israeli warplanes fired a missile at the house and completely destroyed it and a car parked in front of it. Moreover, nearby houses sustained partial damage, but no casualties were reported. It should be noted that the brother of the house’s owner received a call from IOF and asked him to evacuate the house and nearby houses. The one-story house is 160 sqms and sheltered one family of 8.
At approximately 04:10 on Saturday, 15 May 2021, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a boat belonging to the Palestinian Navy Police off the Fishermen Seaport, west of Rafah City. As a result, the boat was completely destroyed, and other fishing boats sustained damage. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 04:20, Israeli warplanes lauched 2 missles at 3 poultry farms (2000 sqms) belonging to Talal Ramadan Salman al-Sha’er in al-Salam neighborhood. Around 25 minutes later, another missile was fired and completely destroyed the farms, killing 10,500 chickens. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 11:15, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to Jamil Hasan Ibrahim Abu Zaid in al-Shabourah refugee camp. Around 15 minutes later, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at the house and completely destroyed 3 shops in the ground floor. Moreover, the rest of house floors were partially destroyed while the nearby houses, shops and al-Abrar Mosque sustained partial damage. No casualties were reported. It should be noted that IOF called one of the neighbors and asked him to evacuate his house and tell the residents of the nearby houses to evacuate as well. The targeted house was comprised of 2 floors on an area of 170 sqms and sheltered 3 families of 13 members.
On Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, IOF stationed along the border fence in eastern Rafah City sporadically fired artillery shells at empty lands, forcing dozens of families to leave their houses in al-Shokah village in eastern Rafah. No casualties were reported.
PCHR reiterates its warning that civilians are paying the heaviest price during the escalation and emphasizes that IOF’s ongoing strikes on residential populated areas and the use of weapons on the basis of collective retaliation constitute grave breaches of the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 that amount to war crimes.
PCHR warns of further deterioration in the Palestinian civilians’ humanitarian conditions; either those displaced or those whose houses were demolished, as they have become homeless and sought refuge in schools in degrading and inhuman conditions. Thus, PCHR calls upon the international community, including the High Contracting Parties to the 1949
Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, to act urgently in order to end all IOF’s military hostilities and to provide protection for the civilians in light of the grave violations of the international humanitarian law, including murders and large-scale destruction of civilian objects and property. PCHR also calls upon the international community and all UN bodies and agencies to take all measures necessary to stop the mass forced displacement of Gaza Strip’s civilians that is conducted by IOF through applying the scorched-earth policy across the Gaza Strip, particularly in the northern part. PCHR calls upon the International humanitarian organizations to provide the humanitarian needs of the displaced civilians, including food, clothes, water and potable water, and hygiene services.
