Ref: 120/2014
Date: 09 August 2014
Time: 09:00 GMT

Since the Beginning of the Israeli Offensive:
1,994 Palestinians, 1,657 of Whom Are Civilians, Including 468 Children and 250 Women, Killed;
8,008 Palestinians, Mostly Civilians, Including 2,135 Children and 1,429 Women, Wounded;
Thousands of Families Forcibly Displaced

At approximately 08:00 on Friday, 08 August 2014, the Egyptian-brokered humanitarian truce between the Palestinian and Israeli sides declared on 05 August 2014 expired. Immediately following the 72-hour truce, Israeli occupation forces resumed their offensive on the Gaza Strip. They launched a series of airstrikes targeting houses, agricultural plots, open areas and mosques, as well as civilian gatherings. They also resumed the artillery and sea shelling. As a result of these attacks, 10 Palestinians, 6 of whom are civilians, including 3 children, were killed, and 88 others, including 2 children and a woman, were wounded. Israeli warplanes also destroyed 13 houses and 6 mosques. Additionally, 6 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children and a woman, died of previous wounds. PCHR’s field workers reported that thousands of Palestinian civilians came back to UNRWA shelters once the truce expired. They face very severe living conditions lacking basic services.

The latest developments since the press release issued by PCHR on Thursday, 07 August 2014 have been as follows:

The Northern Gaza Strip:

Israeli forces launched a number airstrikes targeting houses, agricultural plots, open areas and a mosque. As a result of these attacks, 41 Palestinians, including 11 children and 10 women, were wounded. Israeli forces also targeted and destroyed 5 houses and a mosque, and damaged some other houses.

The most significant attacks were as follows:

• At approximately 11:20 on Friday, 08 August 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a 6-storey house belonging to ‘Omar al-Sherafi in Jabalya refugee camp. As a result, a Palestinian civilian was wounded.
• At approximately 17:35, Israeli warplanes launched 3 missiles at 3 houses belonging to Fayez, ‘Abdul Karim and Daher Ahmed Suleiman in Jabalya refugee camp. The three houses were destroyed and a number of neighboring ones were damaged.
• At approximately 00:00 on Saturday, 09 August 2014, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a house belonging to Eihab ‘Olayan in Beit Lahia. The house was destroyed.
• At approximately 01:00, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at KamelGhaben Mosque in Fad’ous area in Beit Lahia. The mosque was destroyed.

Gaza City:

Israeli warplanes launched several airstrikes that targeted houses, agricultural plots, open areas, civilian facilities and a mosque. As a result of these attacks, a Palestinian child was killed and 15 Palestinians, including 4 children and a woman, were wounded. Three houses and 2 mosques were destroyed.

The most significant attacks were as follows:

• At approximately 10:30 on Friday, 08 August 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at al-Nour al-Mohammedi Mosque, which is under construction, in Sheikh Radwan neighborhood. As a result, Ibrahim ZuhairDawawsa, 10, was killed as he was playing near his family’s house in the area.
• At approximately 14:10, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a 7-storey house belonging to Mohammed Yousef Abu Jahal, in which 35 people live, in al-Mashtal Street in the northwest of Gaza City. The house was destroyed.
• At approximately 20:00, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a 3-storey house belonging to ‘Othman Khalil Eshtaiwi, in which 25 people live, in al-Zaytoun neighborhood. The house was destroyed.
• At approximately 02:00 on Saturday, 09 August 2014, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at Hassan Salama Mosque in al-Zaytoun neighborhood. The mosque was destroyed.
• At approximately 03:45, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a 2-storey house belonging to Faisal Yousef al-Jumassi, in which 22 people live, in al-Sabra neighborhood. The house was destroyed.

The Central Gaza Strip:

Israeli warplanes launched a number of airstrikes targetinghouses and mosques, agricultural plots, open areas and a mosque. As a result of these attacks, 5 Palestinians, including 2 civilians, were killed, and 8 others were wounded. A Palestinian child also died of previous wounds. Additionally, Israeli warplanes targeted and destroyed 3 houses and a mosque and damaged another 2 mosques.

The most significant attacks were as follows:

• At approximately 13:00 on Friday, 08 August 2014, medical sources declared that Mahmoud Maher Hassan, 14, died of previous wounds he had sustained by Israeli shelling.
• At approximately 16:30, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a 2-storey house belonging to Mahmoud Sabra Nwairi, in which 7 people live, in al-Nussairat refugee camp. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.
• At approximately 19:50, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to the al-Kurd family in Deir al-Balah. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.
• At approximately 03:30 on Saturday, 09 August 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at al-Qassam Mosque in al-Nussairat refugee camp. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the mosque and destroyed it. Three members of a Palestinian armed group were killed.
• At approximately 03:40, an Israeli drone fired a missile at al-Shuhada Mosque in al-Nussairat refugee camp. The mosque was damaged.
• At approximately 03:50, an Israeli drone fired a missile at Nayef Abu Middain Mosque in al-Boreij refugee camp. The mosque was damaged.
• At approximately 05:00, an Israeli drone fired 2 missiles at a house belonging to ‘Aadel Mohammed Fayed, in which 8 people live. The house was destroyed.
• At approximately 10:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at motorbike on Saladin road near al-Maghazi intersection. Two Palestinian civilians who were traveling on the motorbike were killed: ‘Abdul Hakim Suleiman al-Musaddar, 56; and Mo’menAkram al-Musaddar, 24.

Khan Yunis:

Israeli warplanes launched 11 airstrikes targeting Palestinian civilians, a motorbike, agricultural plots and a site of a Palestinian armed group in Khan Yunis. As a result of these attacks, 3 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were killed, and 8 others, including 3 children, were wounded. Two Palestinian civilians, including a woman, died of previous wounds. Following the end of the truce, thousands of Palestinian civilians left their homes in the eastern villages of Khan Yunis and resorted to UNRWA shelters or to relatives. UNRWA has operated 19 shelters in the west of Khan Yunis absorbing about 17,000 civilians. Other civilians resorted to mosques and public places.

The most significant attacks were as follows:

• On Thursday, 07 August 2014, medical sources declared that NourSafwat Abu Tair, 19, died of wounds she had sustained when Israeli forces shelled a house belonging to Ziad Abu Zarifa in ‘Abassan village on 23 July 2014. Her sister, Zainab, had been killed in the attack. Medical sources declared also that Hamad Jum’a al-Najjar, 32, died of previous wounds he had sustained by Israeli shelling.
• At approximately 18:25 on Friday, 08 August 2014, Israeli warplanes launched 2 airstrikes on Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis. No casualties were reported.
• Also at approximately 18:25, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a number of Palestinian civilians in Abu Haddaf area in al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. as a result, 3 civilians, including 2 children, were killed: Suleiman Sameer Abu Haddaf, 20; Ahmed Mohammed Abu Haddaf, 11; and Mahmoud Khaled Abu Haddaf, 15. Six civilians, including 3 children, were also wounded.
• At approximately 19:10, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a motorbike that was traveling in Abu Dib Street in BaniSuhaila village, east of Khan Yunis. As a result, the rider and a bystander were wounded.
• At approximately 19:30, Israeli warplanes launched 2 airstrikes on agricultural plots in Abu Daqqa area in al-Fukhari village, southeast of Khan Yunis. No casualties were reported.
• At approximately 20:15, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at an agricultural plot in al-Satar al-Gharbi area. Fire broke out in the area, but no casualties were reported.
• At approximately 21:05, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at al-Qarara village. No casualties were reported.
• At approximately 21:40, Israeli warplanes launched 5 airstrikes targeting a site of a Palestinian armed group and agricultural plots in al-Satar al-Gharbi area. No casualties were reported.
• At approximately 09:20 on Saturday, 09 August 2014, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a greenhouse in al-Zanna area, east of Khan Yunis. A Palestinian civilian was seriously wounded.

Rafah:

Israeli warplanes launched 42 airstrikes on Rafah targeting houses, agricultural plots and open areas. As a result, of these attacks, a member of a Palestinian armed group was killed, and 16 civilians, including 6 children and 3 women, were wounded. Israeli warplanes destroyed 2 houses and damaged an UNRWA clinic. Additionally, 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, died of previous wounds.

The most significant attacks were as follows:

• At approximately 11:00 on Friday, 08 August 2014, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at an open area near an UNRWA elementary school in al-Junaina neighborhood. As a result, Majdi ‘Abdul Mohsen Younis, 50, was seriously wounded.
• At approximately 14:00, an Israeli drone fired 2 missiles at an agricultural plot near Haroun al-Rasheed Mosque in al-Tannour neighborhood in the east of Rafah.
• At approximately 17:00, an Israeli drone fired 2 missiles at a member of a Palestinian armed group in al-Siamat neighborhood in the north of Rafah, killing him.
• At approximately 18:00, Israeli warplanes launched 3 missiles at an open area near al-Aqqad School in Kherbat al-‘Adas neighborhood in the north of Rafah.
• At approximately 18:20, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at an agricultural plot in al-Nasser village, northeast of Rafah.
• At approximately 21:30, medical sources declared that Khaled ‘Atallah Abu Sha’ar, 23, died of previous wounds he had sustained by Israeli shelling near his house in al-Furqan neighborhood in the west of Rafah on Sunday, 03 August 2014.
• At approximately 22:00, medical sources in Egypt declared that Suleiman SaleemMadi, 53, died of wounds he had sustained when Israeli warplanes bombarded his brother’s house in Madi area in the north of Rafah on Friday, 01 August 2014. As a result of the attack, 5 Palestinian civilians, including a pregnant women and 3 children, were killed.
• From 23:30 on Friday, until 01:40 on Saturday, 09 August 2014, Israeli warplanes launched 29 missiles at a site of Saladin Brigades (the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees) near the Saudi neighborhood in the west of Rafah. A nearby UNRWA clinic and a number of houses were damaged.
• At approximately 02:00, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at al-Salam neighborhood in the south of Rafah. As a result, a Palestinian child was wounded by shrapnel.
• At approximately 05:20, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to Jum’aShallouf in al-Mawasi area in the west of Rafah. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it. A nearby grocery shop belonging to Ziad al-Nahhal was also destroyed.
• At approximately 08:55, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to the family of Ussama Abu Taha, in which 32 people live, 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 number of nearby houses were damaged, and 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded. It is worth noting that the house had been bombarded and partially destroyed by Israeli warplanes on 17 August 2014.
• In the morning, medical sources declared that ‘Izziddin Waleed AbbuEsnaima, 12, died of wounds he had sustained on 03 August 2014 when an Israeli warplane fired a missile at the entrance of an UNRWA shelter in Rafah.

Note: 2 Palestinian civilians died of previous wounds, and they were not mentioned in previous updates. So, they have been added to the total number of Palestinian victims.

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

1) Calls upon the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to promptly visit the Gaza Strip, to fulfill her responsibilities to stop this barbaric offensive and to closely watch the systematic destruction caused and deliberate targeting of Palestinian civilians and property protected under the international law;
2) Calls upon the UN Human Rights Council to accelerate the formation of the fact-finding mission as decided by the Council in the resolution taken in its special session that was held on 23 July 2014 to investigate violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law in the occupied Palestinian territory without any delay related to bureaucratic restrictions and procedures;
3) Calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their contractual obligations not only to respect the Convention, but also ensure respect for the Convention, and to immediately intervene to stop war crimes committed by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians, and calls upon the Swiss Government, the depository of the Geneva Conventions, to call for a new conference of the High Contracting Parties as soon as possible;
4) Stresses that holding war criminals accountable is an essential condition for any future settlement, and the international community should confirm that no impunity for war criminals, and the achievement of peace is conditioned by respect for human rights and the international law, and prosecution of war criminals;
5) Calls upon the Palestinian leadership to immediately accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which will provide opportunities to prosecute Israeli war criminals before the Court;
6) Stresses that the Gaza Strip is a disaster area and there is an urgent need to treat the disastrous humanitarian situation resulting from deliberate Israeli attacks on the civilian infrastructure, including electricity, water, hospitals, shelters and houses, forcible displacement of more than 500,000 civilians ad systematic and mass destruction of civilian communities;
7) Calls upon the international community to intervene to stop the policies of collective punishment and left the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip for more than seven years, allowing the freedom of movement and goods, away from artificial improvements which have contributed to institutionalizing and prolonging the closure.