Ref: 112/2014
Date:02 August 2014
Time: 07:00 GMT

123 Palestinian Civilians, Including 33 Children, 4 Women and 3 Health Workers, Killed and 250 Others Wounded;
Bodies of Victims Put in Vegetable Refrigerators Due to Evacuation of Hospitals;
More Bodies of Victims Recovered from Debris of Homes;
Electricity off for 5th 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:
1,689 Palestinians Killed, of Whom 1,438 Are Civilians, Including 401 Children and 212 Women, and 7,275 Others Wounded, Mostly Civilians, Including 1,917Children and 1,300 Women;
745 Houses Targeted and Destroyedand 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 26thconsecutive 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 Friday morning, 01 August 2014, following the collapse of the humanitarian truce declared at midnight, and as Israel claimed that an Israeli soldier was kidnapped in Rafah, Israeli forces in an unprecedented and hysterical manner bombarded all areas throughout Rafah from the air, the ground and the sea. No civilian was immune. In the first wave of the barbaric offensive on the city, at least 60 Palestinian civilians were killed. Israeli forces continued their retaliatory attacks on the city until this morning, so the death toll increased to 123 civilians, including 33 children, 14 women and 3 health workers. Israeli tanks fired dozens of shells at the vicinity of Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital causing extensive damage and wounding a number of civilians. Doctors in the hospital received phone calls from Israeli forces that order evacuation of the hospital. Consequently, the hospital was evacuated, but bodies of 64 victim were left in the morgue due to the lack of morgues in other hospitals in the city. New bodies of victims were transferred to vegetable refrigerators.

Electricity supplies have been off in the Gaza Strip for the 5thconsecutive 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 400,000 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. Details of the crime that took place in Rafah, which left dozens of deaths, while this update was being written will be published in tomorrow’s update. The following details are based on the information which the field workers have been able to collect.

From 10:00 on Friday, 01 August 2014 to 10:00 on Saturday, 02 August 2014, according to what PCHR has been able to document, 143 Palestinians, 142 of whom are civilians, including 39 children,16 women and 3 health workers,were killed, and 589 others, including 71 children and 25 women, were wounded; this number does not include the civilians who were wounded in Rafah due to difficulties in categorizing them. Medical crews were able to recover the bodies of 51 Palestinians, 22 of whom are civilians, including a child and 2 women. Three civilians, including a child and woman, died of previous wounds. Additionally, Israeli warplanes and tanks destroyed 43 houses, a police station, a building of the Islamic University, 5 mosques and a number of civilian facilities.

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

The Northern Gaza Strip:

Israeli forces launched 37airstrikes while Israeli tanks and gunboats fired dozens of artillery shells targeting houses, agricultural plot, open areas, a police station, 3 mosques and the building of the District Court. As a result of these attacks, 4 Palestinian civilians, including an infant and a woman, were killed, and 80 others, including 28 children and 19 women, were wounded. Israeli forces also targeted and destroyed 7 houses, and damaged dozens of others.

The most significant attacks were as follows:

• At approximately 17:10 on Friday, 01 August 2014, Israeli warplanes bombarded an agricultural plot adjacent to a house belonging to the al-Barrawi family in Beit Lahia housing project. As a result, Su’ad ‘Ali al-Bahri, 74, and SamaNa’el al-Barrawi, 10 months, were killed, and a woman was wounded.
• At approximately 17:50, Israeli warplanes bombarded Jabalya police station, destroying it. A number of nearby houses were damaged.
• At approximately 19:20, Israeli warplanes bombarded a 5-storey apartment building belonging to ‘Alaa’ Zaqqout, which is leased by people, in Beit Lahia housing project. The building was destroyed, and 3 nearby houses were extensively damaged, including a house belonging to a PCHR’s staff member, Maher Lubbad, and his brother Hassan, who works in al-Mezan Center for Human Rights. A number of houses were also damaged and 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded.
• At approximately 19:45, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a 2-storey house belonging to Sa’id ‘Abdul Mon’em in Jabalya refugee camp. The house was extensively damaged, as the missile did not explode.
• At approximately 21:00, an Israeli drone fired 2 missiles at a house belonging to Suleiman al-Nudor in Jabalya, The house was damaged and 3 members of the family, including a child, were wounded.
• At approximately 22:35, Israeli drones fired 4 missiles at the building of Jabalya District Court in the vicinity of Jabalya market. The building was extensively damaged, and 9 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children and 3 women, living in nearby houses were wounded.
• At approximately 22:45, Israeli warplanes bombarded a house belonging to the Mas’oud family near Jabalya District Court.
• At approximately 02:50 on Saturday, 02 August 2014, Israeli warplanes bombarded house belonging to Mohammed Mahmoud al-Dada near al-No’man Mosque in Jabalya. The house was destroyed and al-Dada’s son, Fu’ad, 28, was killed, when he went to house to bring some needs. A neighbor was also wounded and a number of nearby houses were damaged.
• At approximately 03:25, Israeli warplanes bombarded an agricultural plot near Jabalya police station. As a result, 2 nearby houses belonging to Mo’tazShihada were extensively damaged.
• At approximately 03:40, Israeli warplanes bombarded a car belonging to Akram al-Bbannak, and a minibus belonging to Moneer al-Banna, which were parked near their houses in Jabalya. The car and the minibus were destroyed, and a number of houses were extensively damaged.
• At approximately 04:00, Israeli warplanes bombarded al-‘Omari Mosque in the center of Jabalya, damaging it extensively. The moazen of the mosque, DawodZakarianDawod, 55, was killed.
• Ar approximately 04:20, Israeli drones fired 2 missiles at al-‘Awda Mosque in the center of Jabalya refugee camp, damaging it.
• At approximately 06:00, Israeli warplanes bombarded ‘Aisha Mosque in al-Tawam area in the west of Jabalya. The mosque was extensively damaged.
• Israeli tanks shelled Beit Lahia and Jabalya damaging a number of houses.

Gaza City:

Israeli warplanes launched a number of airstrikes that targeted houses, agricultural plots, open areas, a mosque and a number of civilian facilities, while Israeli tanks and gunboats fired dozens of shells at the city. As a result of these attacks, 11Palestinian civilians, including 4 children and a woman, were killed, and 30 others, including 4 children and a woman, were wounded. Medical crews also recovered bodies of 4 Palestinian civilians from al-Shuja’iya neighborhood.

The most significant attacks were as follows:

• At approximately 14:00 on Friday, 01 August 2014, medical crew recovered the bodies of 4 Palestinian civilians from al-Shuja’iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City: Sa’idSaleem Abu al-Kas, 22; Hassan Mahmoud al-Sersawi, 24; Na’el Nabil al-Sersawi, 28; and Shareef Salah Qanou’, 35.
• At approximately 17:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a motor cart on which 4 Palestinian civilians were traveling near Ali Mosque in al-Zaytoun neighborhood. The 4 civilians were wounded. They were evacuated in a civilian car, but an Israeli warplane fired a missile at the car, killing the 4 civilians and the father of one of them who attempted to evacuate them to the hospital: Tariq Fayez Yassin, 42; his son Fayez, 16; Mohammed Eihab Yassin, 25; Hussein Ismail Yassin, 30; and Suhail Ibrahim Shamallakh, 23.
• At approximately 20:30, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a 3-storey house belonging to Salem Qassem Abu Shari’a, in which 13 people live. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it. A number of nearby houses were damaged.
• At approximately 23:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at Salah ZiadMousa, 30, when he was near al-Abrar Mosque in al-Zaytoun neighborhood. He was killed.
• At approximately 23:30, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a 2-storey house belonging to Ahmed Mohammed al-Nairab, in which his family and 4 tenants live, in al-Sabra neighborhood. Al-Nairab and his family were killed: his wife, Suhaila Ahmed al-Nairab, 35; and his 3 children: Mohammed, 14; Mo’men, 8; and Mahmoud, 10.
• At approximately 01:00 on Saturday, 02 August 2014, Israeli warplanes launched 7 missiles at Imam Shaf’ei Mosque in al-Zaytoun neighborhood and destroyed it.
• At approximately 02:30, an Israeli drone fired a missile at the 13th floor of al-Dana building, which belongs to ‘Abdul Nasser ‘Atallah, in al-Nasser Street. The floor was destroyed.
• At approximately 04:30, Israeli warplanes launched 3 missiles at the administration building in the Islamic University of Gaza, which is comprised of 5 floors. The building was completely destroyed, and the grand conference hall was damaged.
• At approximately 05:00, Israeli drones fired 3 missiles at a 2-storey house belonging to Suleiman Mahmoud Abu ‘Eissa, in which 11 people live, in al-Shamali area. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the hoyse and destroyed it. A number of nearby houses were damaged.
• At approximately 05:20, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the offices of al-Multazem Insurance Company, which are located in a 3-storey building at al-Saraya intersection. The offices were destroyed. A nearby house belonging to Amjad al-Shawa, Coordinator of the Palestinian NGO Network, and his car were also damaged.

The Central Gaza Strip:

Israeli warplanes launched 10 airstrikes and tanks fired dozens of shells athouses, a mosque,, agricultural plots and open areas. As a result of these attacks, 19 Palestinians, including 7 children and 4 women, were wounded. Medical crews also recovered bodied of 2 Palestinian civilians from the debris of their destroyed homes. Additionally, Israeli warplanes targeted and destroyed 6 houses and a mosque.

The most significant attacks were as follows:

• At approximately 16:20 on Friday, 01 August 2014, medical crews recovered the body of ‘AatefSuhailQandil, 23, from the debris of a house belonging to the al-‘Othmani family in al-Maghazi refugee camp, which was bombarded on the previous day.
• At approximately 17:15, an Israeli warplane fired 2 missiles at a 2-storey house belonging to Isma’il Ibrahim Abu Swaireh, in which 12 people live, in the west of al-Nussairat refugee camp. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.
• At approximately 18:20, medical crews recovered the body of Ussama ‘Abdul Malek Abu Mu’alla, 37, whose house in the west of al-Nussairat refugee camp was bombarded by Israeli warplanes on 25 July 2014.
• At approximately 01:00 on Saturday, 02 August 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a 3-storey house belonging to Jihad Suleiman al-Hajj, in which 25 people live in al-Nussairat refugee camp. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.
• Also at approximately 01:00, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a house belonging to Ahmed ‘Abdul Latif Abu Rakhiya, in which 10 people live, in al-Nussairat refugee camp. The house was destroyed.
• At approximately 01:50, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to ‘Abdullah Mohammed Abu Mishmish, in which 13 people live, in al-Nussairat refugee camp. An Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it together with 2 neighboring houses.
• At approximately 03:00, Israeli warplanes launched 2 missiles at al-Safa Mosque in al-Boreij refugee camp. The house was destroyed, and a number of neighboring houses were damaged.
• At approximately 04:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a 4-sstorey house belonging to ‘Adnan Sha’ban Bashir, in which 6 people live, in Deir al-Balah. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.
• At approximately 06:15, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to Hosni ‘Abdullah Bashir, in which 30 people live, in Deir al-Balah. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it together with a neighboring house. Three neighbors were also wounded.

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, 5 Palestinians, 4 of whom are civilians, including a child, were killed, and 110 others, including 32 children and 21 women, were wounded. Three civilians, including a child and 2 women, died of previous wounds. Medical crews recovered the bodies of 45 Palestinians, 16 of whom are civilians, including a child and 2 women, who were killed in Khuza’a village. Two houses were also destroyed.

The most significant attacks were as follows:

• On Friday morning, 01 August 2014, when the humanitarian truce entered into force, medical crews were able to enter Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis. The searched in the houses and under the debris, and found bodies of several Palestinians, mostly members of armed groups. Bodies of 5 militants were found in a bathroom of a house belonging to Hani Yousef al-Najjar and a 6th one was wound at the door of the bathroom. PCHR field worker was not able to find out the circumstances of their deaths, but they were hit by gunshots and apparently bled to death. There are suspicions that they were executed after being captured.
• Bodies of 34 Palestinians, 7 of whom are civilians, including a physically disabled woman, were recovered, mostly from Khuza’a village, while bodies of 3 Palestinians were recovered from ‘Abassan village. Some of the civilians were identified as: Salem Hussein Qudaih, 62; Ahmed Salem Qudaih, 19; Mohammed Suleiman al-Najjar, 100; Suleiman Mahmoud al-Najjar, 65; Ghadeer Ibrahim Abu Rujaila, 25, who is physically diabled; and EyadRadi Abu Raida.
• The deaths of 4 Palestinian civilians in Khuza’a village was confirmed: Helmi Abu Rujaila, 70; his son ‘Abbas, 20; and RamsiSaleem Abu Raida, 55, who was mentally disabled.
• Medical crews recovered bodies of 7 Palestinians, 4 of whom are civilians, including a child, from al-Qarara village. The civilian victims were identified as:Haitham Ahmed al-Sumairi, 12; ‘Aadel Ahmed Muhanna, 55; Nour al-Din ‘AadelMuhanna, 27; and ‘EmadHassabNuhanna.
• In the morning, medical sources declared that MirvatHelmi Abu Rujaila, 32, died of her wounds. The deaths of her father, mother and brother had been already confirmed.
• In the morning, Raneen ‘Ali al-Qarra, 14, died of wounds she had sustained by Israeli artillery shelling in the morning in BaniSuhaila village, east of Khan Yunis.
• At approximately 10:00, Israeli tanks fired dozens of shells at Palestinian populated and agricultural areas in the eastern villages of Khan Yunis.
• At approximately 13:05, an Israeli drone fired a missile on the roof of the building of Palestine Red Crescent Society in al-Amal neighborhood in the west of Khan Yunis, causing some damage. No casualties were reported.
• At approximately 13:30, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a country house near al-Aqsa University in the southwest of Khan Yunis. As a result, 2 members of a Palestinian armed group were killed.
• At approximately 19:50, an Israeli artillery shell hit a 3-storey house belonging to HananTaherSha’at in al-Qassam Street. As a result of the explosion of the shell, Wajeeh Mohammed Sha’at who was in the balcony of his neighboring house was killed. Four children were also wounded.
• At approximately 20:20, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a vehicle of desalinated water that was traveling on Saladin road. The driver was wounded.
• Also at approximately 20:20, an Israeli tank shell hit al-Arnab Street in al-Katiba neighborhood. As a result, ‘Omar Shaker Barbakh, 15, was killed.
• At approximately 21:00, an Israeli drone fired 2 missiles at a 4-storey house belonging to the heirs of Ibrahim Mohammed al-‘Aqqad in the center of Khan Yunis. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.
• Also at approximately 21:00, an Israeli tank shell hit a house belonging to Yasser Yousef Abu Sa’id, 40, in BaniSuhaila, killing him and wounding his wife and daughter.
• At approximately 23:35, an Israeli drone fired 2 missiles at a house belonging to Maher Mohammed Abu ‘Elwan, in which 3 families live, in Khan Yunis refugee camp. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it together with 3 neighboring houses. Dozens of houses were damaged, and 30 Palestinian civilians, mostly women and children, were wounded.
• At approximately 01:20 on Saturday, 02 August 2014, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a plot adjacent to the Hamdan family in al-Amal neighborhood. The missile did not explode, but it damaged roofs of a number of houses.
• At approximately 03:00, medical sources declared that ‘EissaSa’di al-Sha’er, 40, died of a previous wound he had sustained by Israeli shelling.
• At approximately 03:40, an Israeli tank shell hit a house belonging to the Sha’at family in al-Mawasi area in Khan Yunis. The house was damaged and a Palestinian civilian was seriously wounded.

Rafah:

Since Friday morning, 01 August 2014, Israeli forces 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. Israeli forces launched 100 airstrikes and fired hundreds of tank shells indiscriminately at Palestinian civilian. Israeli warplanes also bombarded houses without prior warning, which constitutes an act of reprisal against the civilian population. As a result of these attacks, 123 Palestinian civilians, including 33children and 14 women, were killed, 29 of whom are still unidentified. At least 250 civilians, including many children, were also wounded. Additionally, 24 houses were destroyed, 6 of which were destroyed while their residents were inside. Israeli warplanes bombarded a mall and 2 apartment buildings. Israeli forces expanded their incursion into al-Shouka village up to 1,500and 8 others, including 2 children and 3 women, were wounded. A house and a flat were destroyed. A PCHR field worker reported that the major hospital in Rafah, Abu Yousef al-Najjr Hospital, was evacuated, excluding 64 bodies that were put in refrigerators, as other health centers in the town do not have refrigerators. Bodies of new victim were put in vegetable refrigerators. Israeli forces also attacked an ambulance of the Ministry of Health, killing 3 medical workers.

The most significant attacks were as follows:

• A humanitarian truce entered into force at 08:00 on Friday, 01 August 2014, but it was soon violated by Israel. While thousands of Palestinian civilians were returning to their homes from which they were forcibly displaced, at approximately 09:50, Israeli tanks and helicopter gunships opened fire at Palestinian civilians in the east of Rafah. As a result of these attacks, 40 Palestinian civilians, including at least 2 children and 2 women, were killed.
• From 10:00 to 12:00, Israeli warplane bombarded several houses without prior warnings, while residents were still inside. As a result, 39 Palestinian civilians, including 20 children and 7 women, were killed, and the houses were destroyed. These attacks were as follows:

• Israeli warplanes bombarded a house belonging Farouq ‘AwadGhaith in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of Rafah. Four residents of the house, including a woman and a child, were killed.
• Israeli warplanes bombarded a house belonging to Ibrahim Mahmoud al-Masri in Yebna refugee camp in the center of Rafah. Three residents of the house were killed.
• Israeli warplanes bombarded a house belonging to Mohammed ‘Eissa al-Sha’er in Yebna refugee camp in the center of Rafah. Three members of the family and 3 members of the Abu Wahab family who had shelter in the house were killed.
• Israeli warplanes bombarded a house belonging to Ra’fat ‘OudaZo’rob in the Saudi neighborhood in the west of Rafah. Thirteen members of the family, including 7 children and 3 women, were killed.
• Israeli warplanes bombarded a house belonging to Fathi Abu Suleiman in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of Rafah. Seven members of the family, including 5 children, their mother and another woman, were killed.
• Israeli warplanes bombarded a house belonging to Bassam Mohammed al-Nairab in al-Shaboura refugee camp in the center of Rafah. Al-Nairab’s wife and child, 3 children from the ‘Eita family and a man from the al-Manyarawi family were killed.

• At approximately 15:30, Israeli warplanes bombarded an ambulance of the Ministry of Health. As a result, 3 health workers were killed: ‘Aatef Saleh al-Zameli, 42, the driver; Yousef Ejmai’an al-Zameli, 33, a nurse; and Yousef JaberDarabih, 25, a volunteer paramedic.
• As a result of Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling, 41 Palestinian civilians were killed in various areas throughout Rafah.

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.