Ref: 23/2011
Last
night and this morning, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) intensified their flights
over the Gaza Strip. They used warplanes to bombard many civilian
establishments in the Gaza Strip. Shortly after the Israeli army notified
owners of their intent to bomb their house IOF warplanes bombed it.
According
to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR),
at approximately 23:00 on 21 March 2011, an IOF F16 fighting falcon fired two
missiles at the “Martyr Abdul Aziz al-Rantisi” site which is used by
the Palestinian police. The site is located near al-Twam crossroads in the west
of Jabalia, northern the Gaza Strip, approximately 100 meters from
populated areas. Two rooms used by the police officers, two rooms used by the
administration, a room used to maintain the power generator, a kitchen and the
utilities and the equipment used by the Intervention and Discipline Maintenance
Police were destroyed. Civilians, especially children and women, were panicked
as a result of the bombardment. According to medical sources at al-Shifa
Hospital in Gaza City and Kamal Odwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, fifteen
civilians, including two women and two children, who sustained shrapnel wounds
and were panicked arrived at the two hospitals. Many of the injuries were
sustained when the windows in their homes shattered and glass scattered over
them. In addition, dozens of nearby houses sustained heavy damages. Seven
stores and Sultan Brothers for Construction Materials was also damaged from the
bombing. Heavy damage was inflicted on Baituna Society for Community
Development which was approximately 100m from where the bomb struck. Two cars
belonging to Nael Abu Jalila were also damaged.
In
the same time, an IOF warplane fired a missile at a tin covered structure used
for recycling plastic waste. This project, located in al-Shaaf neighborhood
near al-Rayes Mountain in the east of Gaza City, is owned by Mamdouh Yousef
Khalil Zeidan. The project is located on 1,200 m2 of
land is aimed at protecting the environment. The project is implemented in
partnership with Gaza Municipality. The barracks and its contents were totally
destroyed. Reyad Husanin Company for Construction Materials located on 665m2
sustained partial damages. No casualties were reported.
At
approximately 23:30 on 21 March 2011, an IOF warplane fired a missile at
al-Asil Metal Workshop which is owned by Abdul Salam Abdullah Ibrahim Dalloul.
The workshop which measures 500
m2 is located near al-Zaytoon Club in
al-Zaytoon neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. The workshop was totally
destroyed and civilians living in the vicinity of the workshop were panicked.
At
approximately 23:55 on 21 March 2011, an IOF warplane fired two missiles at a
building belonging to Khzaa Municipality on the main street in Khzaa village
east of Khan Younis. The building which is composed of a cement covered ground
floor located on 150 m2
of land was totally destroyed. Also the front area of the building which
measures 500 m2
was totally destroyed. The building was used as a store to maintain spare
parts, tools used for sanitation purposes and tubes used in water and power
networks. The site includes a water well of 120 meter depth. The well
was shut off because of water salinity and a project is being implemented to
get it operating again. This bombardment also resulted in the destruction of a
goat farm owned by Shawqi Salim Suleiman. The farm measures 120m2
and was covered with tin. In addition, a room and a wall of a nearby house were
heavily damaged.
Also
at approximately at 23:55 on 21 March 2011, Mahmoud Husein Mahmoud al-Najjr,
61, received a phone call from an Israeli phone. The caller who said he was a
member of the Israeli army told him to evacuate his house which is located on
the main street in Khzaa village. At approximately 00:14 on 22 March 2011, an
IOF drone fired a missile at the house of al-Najjr’s son, Husein, which is
adjacent to al-Najjr’s house. A family of five lived in the targeted house
which is composed of two floors and which is covers an area of 130 m2. The fired
missile penetrated the ceiling and landed in the living room. Husein, who was present
in the room when the drone struck, miraculously escaped. He immediately
evacuated the house with his family.
Later,
the Israeli army called al-Najjr a second time and told him to evacuate his
house within five minutes. He evacuated his three-storey house which is built
on 270 m2.
Five families comprising 31 individuals were living in the dwelling. His two
children, Husein and Hassan, who live in two adjacent houses evacuated their
houses out of fear of being subject to another IOF bombardment. As of the
publication of this press release, al-Najjar’s house has not been bombarded.
At
approximately 00:20 on 22 March 2011, IOF warplanes fired a missile at a vacant
piece of land in the east of Khzaa village. No casualties were reported.
At
approximately 00:48 on 22 March 2011, an IOF warplane fired a missile at a
vacant construction materials store near the Bank of Palestine Ltd on the
center of Khan Younis city. The targeted store which is owned by Hatem Mohammed
Hashem al-Farra covers 240 m2
and is covered with tin. The ceiling and the gate of the store were damaged. In
addition, there was damage to the windows of nearby houses.
PCHR
strongly condemns war crimes committed by IOF against Palestinian civilians and
their property. PCHR considers these crimes as reprisals and collective
punishment imposed on Palestinians in violation of Article 33 of the Fourth
Geneva Convention of 1949 relative to the protection of civilian persons in
time of war.
PCHR
notes that the failure of the international community and the High Contracting
Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to take effective actions to
end Israeli war crimes supports and encourages Israel and its military to
commit more war crimes against Palestinian civilians and their property. The
legal protection provided by the United States to Israel, intentional
non-implementation of International Humanitarian Law and the conspiracy of
silence practiced by the European States vis-à-vis crimes committed against
Palestinian civilians make Israel a State above the law. Moreover such
irresponsible inaction encourages Israel, without limitation, to continue
committing crimes against Palestinian civilians. Accordingly, PCHR reminds the
High Contracting Parties of the following:
1. Their
obligations set forth in Article 1 of the Fourth Geneva Convention to respect
the Convention and to ensure its respect in all circumstances.
2. Their
obligations, as set forth in Article 146 of the Convention, to prosecute those
accused of committing grave violations of the Convention. It should be noted
that these violations constitute war crimes in accordance with Article 147 of
the Fourth Geneva Convention and in accordance with Additional Protocol I to
the Geneva Conventions.
