Ref: 58/2006
Date: 02 July 2006
Time: 10:10 GMT
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Intensify Aggression in the Gaza Strip and Continue Reprisals against Palestinian Civilians
For the fourth consecutive day, IOF have continued to conduct extensive air raids on different parts of the Gaza Strip. These raids have targeted both civilian and government property and installations, in an apparent attempt to topple the leadership of the Palestinian government. In addition, eight Cabinet Ministers, more than twenty Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) members, and a number of Hamas leaders in the West Bank are still being detained, after they were taken from their places of residence last Thursday. The latest attacks targeted the office of Prime Minister Ismail Haniya in Gaza City, in the early hours of this morning, 2 July 2006. The office was destroyed, underlining Israeli threats to target Haniya personally and Israeli statements outlining that nobody in the Palestinian leadership will be immune.
It is noted that IOF aircraft have conducted more than fifty air raids over the past 100 hours. IOF aircraft have also conducted dozens of mock air raids, breaking the sound barrier and causing sonic booms over civilian population centers. In addition to the air raids and artillery bombardment, IOF have conducted a number of large scale incursions into the Strip. IOF have razed farmland, raided houses and arrested people in areas controlled by the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). This aggression is being perpetrated under the very tight closure of the Gaza Strip, which isolating it from the outside world. Furthermore, IOF continue to target infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, threatening to cause a humanitarian and economic catastrophe if this aggression persists.
PCHR’s investigations indicate that three Palestinians have been killed over the past four days. Two were killed during air raids on the Gaza Strip. The latest victim was Shaban Abdel Mon’im Hannoun (33) from Jabalia town. He was killed when IOF helicopter gunships targeted an installation near the home of a Hamas PLC member in the area. In addition, nearly thirty civilians have been injured so far in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, including twelve children. The air raids have also caused extensive damage to civilian installations and houses; training sites for resistance factions; and some governmental buildings. (For additional information regarding some of these crimes, refer to PCHR’s press release issued on Friday, 30 June 2006)
On 1 July 2006, IOF conducted two incursions into PNA-controlled areas near Rafah and Khan Yunis. 110 dunums of agricultural land were razed and severe damage was caused to two houses. One Palestinian was detained after he and his family were used as human shields in the town of Greater Abasan, east of Khan Yunis. Another Palestinian from the El-Shouka community was detained. His family was beaten by the special, undercover IOF unit which conducted the operation. A number of personal possessions, including gold jewelry, were also stolen during the operation.
Electricity cuts that have been experienced following the air attack on Gaza’s electrical supply plant have had numerous negative effects on the lives of Palestinians. Many commercial and industrial installations have had to ground their operations to a near halt as a result.
PCHR strongly condemns the continued IOF reprisals against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the collective punishment measures currently being taken, including the destruction of civilian property. These are not military targets and their destruction does not further any military objective. In addition, the Centre condemns the targeting of governmental buildings, in an apparent aim to topple the government and eliminate its leadership. In light of this situation, PCHR reiterates its call to the High Contracting Parties of the 4th Geneva Convention to enforce article 1 of the convention, which ensures respect for the convention, and underlines the need to take necessary punitive steps against any party that commits serious violations. PCHR reminds the international community that the Hague Regulations of 1907 prohibit actions against civilian targets, such as the current IOF actions in the Gaza Strip, which constitute a pre-meditated, systematic operation against Palestinian civilians and the Palestinian government.
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