Reference: 62/2014 Date: 22 July 2014 1PM Gaza Time
IOF Intensifies Attacks on Inhabited Homes 597 Killed including 152 Children and 82 in the Gaza Strip by 1Pm Today Al Mezan Calls on International Community to Protect Civilians and Investigate IHL Violations
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) intensified the attacks on inhabited houses since 2 pm yesterday in various areas of the Gaza Strip. Attacks on homes and other civilian targets continued to claim more civilian lives. The IOF fired at a UN shelter in Beit Hanoun and one women inside it. Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights has verified the use of white phosphorus shells in the east of Gaza City and at least three attacks with flechette bombs in Rafah town in the south of the Gaza City.
The IOF shelling on populated houses continued to claim civilians' lives. An attack on the house of the Al Kilani family killed 11; including four children. Another attack on the house of the Al Qassas family killed ten persons; including six children, while attacks on the Al Yaziji family killed four; including two children and on the house of Ikhriwat family house killed two including a child. The IOF also directed an armed attack at a the main hospital in the Middle Gaza district, leaving multiple casualties and injuries; including among patients and staff.
As the IOF ground invasion continued, over 150,000 people have been displaced; about 100,000 of whom were sheltered in UNRWA schools. The rest sought shelter in government schools or with relatives and friends. Al Mezan warns about the serious implications of such wide-scaled home demolitions while the Gaza Strip has not yet recovered from tens of thousands of previous demolitions, and from the far reaching implications of trauma and displacement on children; especially those who witnessed the killing of family members, neighbors and others.
The situation for the general civilian population is increasingly difficult, with blackouts lasting 20 hours at best and problems with access to water and healthcare.
According to the field investigations by Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, as of 1pm today, on Tuesday 22 July 2014, at least 597 Palestinians have been verified as killed by the IOF; including 152 children and 82 women. According to Al Mezan's initial investigations 468 (i.e. 78.4%) of the victims are civilians. Many others were people known to be affiliated by Palestinian factions, but not taking part in any hostilities. At least 311 (52.1%; 118 children and 73 women) were killed inside their houses; and two other disabled women were killed in an attack on a rehabilitation NGO's office. Of the 311, fifteen were combatants and the rest were civilians.
Moreover, at least 2,938 other people were injured during the same period; of whom at least 822 were children and 614 women. At least, 3,143 houses were destroyed or damaged during this period; of which 499 were destroyed completely as the IOF directly and deliberately attacked 475 of the total number of damaged houses. The numbers of casualties and houses are not final, but only those verified by Al Mezan thus far. They are expected to rise as the verification of more cases is on-going. IOF attacks also damaged or destroyed 46 schools, 56 mosques, an ambulance centre, 17 NGO offices, 39 fishing boats and 7 hospitals.
In a serious escalation of the attacks on civilian objects, the IOF fired artillery shells at the Al Aqsa hospital, which is the main hospital in the Middle Gaza district and located in the town of Deir Al Balah. The attack occurred at approximately 2:30pm on Monday 22 July 2014 and killed three people. Dozens of people were injured in the hospital, which was crowded as many people were there; especially persons injured from IOF attacks and their relatives. According to Al Mezan's investigation into this attack, IOF artillery shells hit houses in the vicinity of the hospital, with one shell directly hitting the third floor of the house of Aballah Al Faleet, 45, west to the hospital's building. People rushed to carry the injured to the hospital when a shell hit the nearby house of Na'eem Sarsour, 37, which is adjacent to the hospital, too. Injuries occurred again and people moved them to the hospital. However, a third house for the Al Na'ouq family was shelled and people who live near the hospital started to evacuate their houses; especially houses that are roofed with asbestos. More people gathered inside the hospital for shelter; including dozens of children and women. At this point, the IOF directed artillery fire at the hospital itself, hitting the surgery department on the third floor with one shell, the maternity department with a second, the administration department with a third, and the stair house with a fourth shell. Three people were killed in the attack on the hospital; including one patient and two visitors. About 40 other were injured; 15 of whom from the hospital's staff. Three ambulances and staff vehicles were damaged. Those who were killed were identified as:
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'Alaa Abdel Majeed Abu Dahrouj, 17; killed in the hospital, -
Zakariya Ibrahim Shalshak; who was killed in his apartment, and -
Khalid Awad Bayoumi, 34, who was visiting a patient at the hospital.
At approximately 1:20 pm on Monday 21 July 2014, an Israeli helicopter fired at least one missile targeting the house of Wajdi Mahmoud Al Yazji, 54, which is located at the Al Karama Towers crossroads, west of Jabliya, in North Gaza district. As a result, Wajdi's wife, Safinaz Nabil Al Yazji, 50, and her granddaughter Yasmin Nayif Al Yazji, 4, and her brother, Hatem, 3, were killed. Three family members were injured in the attack.
At approximately 2:40 pm on Monday 21 July 2014, IOF fired several flechette shells towards houses in the As-Salam neighborhood, south of Rafah town in the south of the Gaza Strip. As a result, Iyad Mohammed Sabbah, 17, was injured. He was referred to the Gaza European Hospital in Khan Younis. At approximately 3:30 pm on the same day, medical sources pronounced him dead. Khalid Ahmed Sabbah, 24, and Rashed Al Qadi, 25, were injured in the attack and were admitted to the An-Najjar hospital in Rafah.
At around 3:50 pm on Monday, 21 July 2014, Israeli aircraft fired one missile at an apartment that belongs to Yassir Khader Al Qassas, 40. The apartment is located on the fourth floor in a building on the Al Thalatheeni Street in Al Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City. The attack resulted in killing ten persons, including six children and three women. They were identified as:
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Alyaa Yousef Siyam, 35; -
Fayza Siyam, 68; -
Sumayya Al Qassas, 32; -
Islam Al Qassas, 25; -
Arwa Al Qassas, 4; -
Samar Al Qassas, 3; -
Israa' Al Qassas, 7; -
Nesma Al Qassas, 10; -
Lamya Al Qassas, 13; and -
Mohammed Al Qassas, 4.
Four others including two children were injured.
At approximately 5:00 pm on Monday 21 July 2014, medical crews recovered the body of Arafa Sultan Ma'rouf, 72, from his farm in Al Ghboun area north of Beit Lahiya town in North Gaza district. In the morning hours on Monday, Israeli aircrafts had attacked Ma'rouf while he was in his farm. The International Red Cross Committee coordinated with the Israeli army to allow access to his dead body.
At approximately 5:00 pm on Monday July 2014, an Israeli fighter jet fired one missile at Zakariya Suleiman Abu Daqqa, 63; a member of a Central Committee of DFLP, five minutes after he entered his house in Abbasan Al Kabeera town in Khan Younis district. His family had evacuated the house several days earlier because of the heavy shelling. He was injured and bled to death because ambulances couldn't reach him until later at around 7:30 pm on the same day.
At approximately 5:10 pm on Monday 21 July 2014, an Israeli drone fired one missile targeting Attiya Nasser Dardouna, 25, while he was walking near the Al Saalam mosque east of Jabaliya, in North Gaza district. According to Al Mezan's field investigations, Daradouna was visiting his relatives in that area when he was attacked.
At approximately 6:00 pm on Monday, 21 July 2014, Israeli fighter jets fired two missile at a group of civilians who were in a farm trying to transfer their poultry to a safer place. Two of them were killed; Sameh Zohair Al Sawafery, 29, and Mohammed Mousa Fayyad, 36, and three were injured in the attack. Ambulances couldn't reach the place until next day morning.
At approximately 6:14 pm on Monday 2014, IOF, which had invaded the northern parts of Beit Hanoun town, opened fire at a group of civilians who were at the yard of the Primary Coeducation School. The school is used as a shelter for residents who evacuated their homes in the town. As a result, Mahdiya Nafez Jarad, 38, sustained a bullet wound in the right hand.
At approximately 6:20 pm on Monday 21 July 2014, IOF fired several flechette shells towards houses on the George Street, east of Rafah. As a result, Fatma Ahmed Al 'Arja, 41, was killed and 10 people from her family were injured while they were sitting in front of the Al Arja family's house in the area. Medical sources at the An-Najjar Hospital in the town informed Al Mezan that their injuries were moderate.
At approximately 6:40pm on Monday 21 July 2014 IOF aircraft fired two missiles at a group of people who were in the vicinity of their house. As a result, two youths were killed: Othman Salim Bree'im, 18, and Fadi Azmi Bree'im, 18. About fifteen minutes later, and as their family were left the house to help them, another missile was fired at them, killing two other men who were identified as Ibrahim I'layan Bree'im, 65, and Salim Abdel Majeed Bree'im, 45.
At approximately 8:20 pm on Monday, 21 July 2014, Israeli aircraft fired one missile at Al Salam Building in Omar Al Mokhtar Street, in central Gaza City. Some families had evacuated their house and sought refuge in this ten-building, which was completely destroyed in the attack. So far, eleven of those who were killed were found, including four children and 4 women:
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Ibrahim Ahmad Al Keelani, 54, -
Yasseen Ibrahim Al Keelani, 9, -
Yasser Ibrahim Al Kelni, 7, -
Sawsan Ibrahim Al Kelani,11, -
Reem Ibrahim Al Kelani,12 , -
Ilyas Ibrahim Al Kelani,47, -
Taghreed Sufyan Al Kelani, 45, -
Ayda Sufian Al Kelani, 47, -
Mahmmoud Sufyan Derbas, 39, -
Enas Sufyan Derbas, 30, and -
Soura Sufyan Derbas, 38.
The Derbas family hold German passports. The final number of the victims has not been confirmed because of difficulties in locating bodies buried under the rubble.
At approximately 8:40 pm on Monday 21 July 2014, an Israeli drone fired one missile at an agricultural field near the house of Omar Mohammed Abu Sa'da, which is located near Al Awda Hospital in North Gaza district. As a result, three passersby were injured. Al Mezan identified their names as follows:
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Ola Mohammed 'Iliyan, 34; -
Her baby Raed, 1 year; and -
Mohammed An-Najjar, 21.
Medical sources at Al Awda Hospital described their injury as moderate.
At around 11:50 pm on Monday, 21 July 2014, an Israeli aircraft fired one missile at the house of Mahmoud Suleiman Abu Sabha and completely destroyed it. The house is located in Abassan Al Kabeera town and is inhabited by one family of 14 members. Mahmoud, 59, was killed and 5 others including one child and one woman were injured as a result of the attack.
At approximately 12:05 am on Tuesday, 22 July 2014, Israeli aircraft fired two missiles at house that belongs to Hassan Khader Bakr, 56. The two-story-house is located near fishermen haven, west of Gaza City. The house owner had received a phone call from an Israeli soldier telling him that his house would be attacked. The moment call ended, Israeli drones fired one missile at the house, killing Hassan Baker. Two minutes later, an Israeli jet bombarded the house with a heavy missile, injuring at least 15 residents and completely destroying it. At approximately 2:45 am on Tuesday, 22 July 2014, Israeli warplanes fired three missiles at the house of Saleh Mahmoud Salama, located in the Al Amal area in Khan Younis City in the south of the Gaza Strip. The two-story-house of 150 square meters was completely destroyed over its residents. No prior warning was given to the family. Mosab Saleh Salama, 18, was killed and 6 others were injured in the attack critically and moderately.
At approximately 1:50 am on Tuesday 22 July 2014, an IOF drone fired a missile at the house of Abdallah Ismail Al Bhisi, 26, killing him instantly.
At approximately 1:50 am on Tuesday 22 July 2014, IOF aircraft bombarded at the house of Mohsin Khalil Mosa, 65, which is located in the town of Deir Al Balah in the Middle Gaza district. The three-story house was inhabited by three families of 19 persons. It was completely destroyed, and three people were injured in the attack.
At approximately 3:50 am on Tuesday 22 July 2014, IOF drones fired two missiles at a shade in front of the Al Rmahi family, who reside in the Wadi Al Salqa village in the Middle Gaza district. The family, nine persons, were eating their Ramadan dawn (suhour) meal when they were attacked. Three of the family members; including two children, were killed and six others were injured; including a child and four women. Those who were killed in this attack were identified as:
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Yousef Ayish Al Rmahi, 22; -
Ibtihal Ibrahim Al Rmahi, 3; (Ibrahim's daughter) and -
Iman Ibrahim Al Rmahi, 15 (Ibrahim's daughter).
At approximately 4 am on Tuesday 22 July 2014, Israeli aircraft bombarded a balcony in the house in the An Nuseirat refugee camp, killing Mohammed Nasr HarounN, 27, and causing damages to the house.
At approximately 6:30 am on Tuesday 22 July 2014, IOF drones fired two missiles at a house in the Wadi Al Salqa village in the Middle Gaza district. A woman and her daughter were killed instantly. The woman's husband and two sons were injured, with one of the two sons wounded critically. The two who were killed were identified as:
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Salwa Abdel Azeez Abu Mneefi, 49; and her daughter -
Samira Sanad Abu Mneefi, 18.
An initial investigation by Al Mezan indicated that the family, who are farmers, were starting their day. Salwa was preparing a donkey-laden cart which the family use to carry vegetables to the local market when the attack hit her.
At approximately 5:00 am on Tuesday 22 July 2014, medical sources at the Gaza European Hospital announced the death of Mu'een Mohammed Siyam, 5, from wounds he had sustained earlier on Monday 21 July 2014 when IOF drones fired five missiles at the house of the Siyam family in the north of Rafah town. Ten people, including six children, were killed and eight, including seven children, were injured in the attack.
At approximately 6:00 am on Tuesday, 22 July 2014, an Israeli warplane fired one missile at the house of Hassan Awad Azzam and completely destroyed it. The house is located in the Al Zaytoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City. Fatma Hassan Azzam, 70, and her sister Mariam Hassan Azzam, 50, were killed as a result of the attack.
At approximately 6:50 am on Tuesday 22 July 2014, an Israeli drone fired one missile targeting a group of people from the Az-Za'neen family while they were evacuating their house on the Al Qaraman Street in Beit Hanoun town in North Gaza district. As a result, Sami Ahmed Az-Za'aneen was injured and his right hand fingers were amputated. Medical sources at Beit Hanoun Hospital described his injury as critical and referred him to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
At approximately 9:00 am on Tuesday 22 July 2014, an Israeli drone fired one missile at the house of Raed Al Haw, which is located in Block 7 in the Jabaliya refugee camp in North Gaza district. As a result, the house of his neighbor, Jawdat Al Wheedi, was severely damaged and Laila Abbas Al Wheedi, 61, was killed. Seven people from the Al Wheedi family were injured in the attack.
At approximately 11:55 am on Tuesday 22 July 2014, IOF fired several artillery shells; one of which hit the house of Rami Ikhrawat in Izbet Beit Hanoun in North Gaza district. As a result, the house owner's wife, Suha Na'em Ikhrawat, 23, who was nine months pregnant, and their daughter Muna, 1.5, were killed. In addition, their son Fadi, 5, was injured. Medical sources at Kamal Odwan.
At approximately 11:00 am on Tuesday 22 July 2014, IOF fired several flechette shells towards houses in the northeast of Rafah town. As a result, Khadra Awad Abu Telakh, 54, and Yasmin Ahmed Abu Moor, 27, were killed. Jamal Saleh Abu Telakh, 19, and Suliman Hussein Abu Telakh, 39, were injured while they were in their field.
At approximately 12:30 pm Israeli aircraft fired two missiles at a house that belongs to Hussein Roshdi Al Nakhala, 65. The two-story-house is located in the Al Nasser neighborhood west Gaza City. Sa'eda Thabet Al Husseini, 54, Hussein's wife, and their son Mahmoud Hussein Al Nakhala, 18, were killed as a result. The house was also completely destroyed.
At around 12:30 pm on Monday, 21 July 2014, Israeli aircraft fired two missiles at the house of Jamal Attiya Hamdiya. The three-story-house is located in the Al Shejaiya neighborhood, east of Gaza City. One missile hit the house and the other hit a group of civilians who were near it at the time of the attack. Eight civilians were killed:
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Ayed Jamal Hamdiya, 22, -
Motaz Jamal Hamdiya, 20, -
Youssef Attiya Hamdiya, 22, -
Mahran Kamel Jundiya, 32, -
Tamer Nayef Jundiya, 32, -
Rahma Ahmad Jundiya, 58, -
Ibrahim Shaban Bakroun, 35, and -
Raed Essam Dawood, 33.
Al Mezan condemns the IOF flagrant violations of international law in the context of the ongoing Operation Protective Edge . The extensive use of artillery and air attacks has devastated people; especially families who were attack when they were inside their homes. Al Mezan strongly condemns the attacks on the Al Aqsa hospital, the UN shelter and the use of white phosphorus and flechette bombs in IOF attacks.
The IOF's acts represent grave breaches of IHL, amounting to war crimes. They are expected to continue in the coming days. Al Mezan also expresses outrage by the inaction of the international community despite the objective reporting from human rights organizations and international media about the manner in which the IOF has been conducting hostilities. So far, most states have focused on Israel's contested right to self-defence while overlooking the absolute prohibitions on targeting civilians and launching disproportionate attacks, an attitude that has been echoed in Israel as a green light to go forward with such serious violations, which will certainly allow the grave situation to develop graver. Should the situation continue to develop this way, international community's complacency will lead to greater numbers of civilian victims.
Al Mezan warns about the continuous prevalence of the culture of impunity; both at the international level where Israel is shielded from criticism of punishment for violations of IHL and the domestic level where Israel's justice system does not accommodate any form of effective accountability. This culture is the main motive behind the continuous commitment of war crimes and must be abolished.
Al Mezan therefore calls on the international community to:
Condemn strongly the grave breaches of IHL in the context of Operation Protective Edge;
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Take immediate, effective action to provide the due protection of civilians in the Gaza Strip from military attacks and prosecution; -
Carry out credible investigations into the conduct of hostilities and ensure accountability for those who prove to have committed violations and redress for the victims of these violations; and -
Use multilateral and bilateral relations with Israel to insist on the immediate need to respect IHL.