Ref: 08/2009

Date: 09 January  2009

Time: 12:30 GMT

 

Fourteenth Day of Continuous IOF Attacks cross the Gaza Strip

53 Palestinians Killed, Including 20 Children and 4 Women;

The Total Number of Victims Now Stands at 764, Including 189 Children, 50 Women, 6 Medical Personnel and One Palestinian journalist.

As the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) continue their indiscriminate attacks in the Gaza Strip for the fourteenth consecutive day, the number of Palestinian civilian deaths continues to rise amidst massive destruction of buildings and property. During the last 24 hours, 49 Palestinian civilians were killed, including 20 children and four women. Thus, the total number of victims who have been killed since the beginning of the ongoing offensive has mounted to 764 Palestinians, including 189 children and 50 women. The high number of victims amongst civilians, mainly children, is a clear indication of the disproportional use of lethal excessive force, IOF's total disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians and deliberate targeting of civilians in the worst forms of intimidation and reprisals against civilians, which are prohibited under the international law.   

This is a summary of the crimes committed by IOF in the Gaza Strip during the last 24 hours.

 

Northern Gaza Strip

·  At approximately 12:45 on Thursday, 8 January, IOF artillery shelled Sheikh Zayed area, east of Beit Lahia. As a result, 5-year-old Basma Yaser al-Jeilawi was killed by shrapnel near her house.

·  At approximately 12:45 on Thursday, IOF warplanes bombed a house belonging to Mohammed Abu Eskheila, in al-Hawaja Street in the Center of Jabalya Refugee Camp. The house was completely destroyed, 14 civilians were injured and neighboring houses were partially damaged.

·  At approximately 13:00 on Thursday, medical sources announced the death of Ussama Said Lubbad, 19, of wounds sustained earlier on the same day when IOF warplanes bombed a group of young people in Beit Lahia. Another 3 civilians were immediately killed in the same attack.

·  At approximately 13:00 on Thursday, IOF artillery shelled the vicinity of UNRWA schools in Jabalya refugee camp, wounding 4 civilians.  

·     At approximately 14:30 on Thursday, IOF opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Amal neighborhood, east of Beit Hanoon. As a result, Jamal Ahmed Hassan Nashwan, 34, was killed by a bullet to the chest while he was inside his house.

·     At approximately 16:00 on Thursday, the medical personnel of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), evacuated the bodies of 4 civilians who had been killed earlier. The evacuated bodies belong to:

1.      Mohammed Hekmat Abu Halima, 17,

2.      Matar Sa’ad Matar Abu Halima, 17,

3.      Shahed Sa’ad Matar Abu Halima, 1.5, and

4.      An unidentified body.

·     At approximately 17:20 on Thursday, an IOF warplane bombed a house belonging to Ahmed Yousif Lowa in Izbat Abed Rabbu area, east of Jabalya. The house was completely destroyed and neighboring houses were damaged.   

·     At approximately 21:20 on Thursday, an IOF warplane bombed a house belonging to Mosallam Abu Sela’a in al-Ajarma Street in Jabalya refugee camp. The house was completely destroyed and neighboring houses were damaged.  

·     At approximately 21:20 on Thursday, an IOF warplane bombed a house belonging to Ahmed al-Batsh near the Bank of Palestine LTD in Jabalya town. The 3-storey house was completely destroyed and a number of neighboring houses were damaged.

·     At approximately 22:10 on Thursday, an IOF warplane bombed a house belonging to Jaber Ibrahim 'Abdullah Abu Safeya, 43, near the cemetery of Beit Lahia town. The 2-storey house was completely destroyed and a number of neighboring houses were damaged.

·     At approximately 22:30 on Thursday, an IOF warplane bombed a 2-storey house belonging to Saleh al-Batsh near the cemetery of Beit Lahia town.

·     At approximately 01:00 on Friday, 9 January, an IOF warplane bombed a 2-storey house belonging to the sons of Mohammed Mustafa Yousef ‘Olayan, in which 32 people live, near al-Taqwa Mosque in Beit Lahia. The house was completely destroyed and a number of neighboring houses were damaged.

·     At approximately 01:00 on Friday, an IOF warplane bombed an open area near a house belonging to the Jadallah family east of Jabalya refugee camp. As a result, a child, Fatma Rezeq Jadallah, 11, was killed by shrapnel while she was inside her house.

·     At approximately 03:30 on Friday, an IOF warplane bombed a 4-storey house belonging 'Abdul Rahman 'Abdul Rahim Deeb Ahmed, in which 5 families counting 25 people live, near the police station in Beit Lhia town. The house was destroyed and a number of neighboring houses were damaged.

·     At approximately 04:30, IOF warplanes bombed a 2-storey house belonging to Fayez Mohammed Salha near al-Rebat Mosque in Beit Lahia. Six members of the Salha Family were killed while trying to flee from the house, after a warning missile was launched by an IOF drone at their house. Six minutes after the warning missile, an IOF warplane bombed the house with a missile that led to the complete destruction of the house and the death of:

1.      The wife of Fayez Mohammed Salha, Randa Salha, 33, and her children who are:

2.      Deya’a al-Din, 14,

3.      Rana, 12,

4.      Baha’a al-Din, 4.5,

5.      Rula, 1, and

6.      Fatma al-Haw, 22, who is the sister of Randa Salha.

 

·     At approximately 10:00 on Friday, IOF tanks fired several shells to Gaza Old Street, south of Jabalya. As a result, a child, Alaa' Ahmed Fathi Jaber, 12, was killed near her house and 7 civilians were wounded.

·     Also at approximately 10:00 on Friday, IOF tanks fired several shells at two houses belonging to 'Izziddin Abu al-Husni and Nahedh Abu al-Husni in Gaza Old Street, south of Jabalya. As a result, a child, Mohammed ‘Atef Abu al-Husni, 15, was killed and 10 civilians were wounded.

·      At approximately 11:00 o Friday, several artillery shells were fired by IOF at Gaza Old Street, south of Jabalya, killing Hisham Said Mansour, 22, while passing in the targeted street. 

 

Gaza City:

·  At approximately 14:00 on Thursday, 8 January, medical personnel found the body of Ahmed Hassan Abu Zoor, 21, who had been wounded near his house on 3 January.

·  At approximately 16:00 on Thursday, IOF fired artillery shells at a house belonging to Majed 'Adnan Dader, 33, behind Abu Bakr al-Seddiq Mosque in al-Zaytoun neighborhood. As a result, 6 members of the Dader family were wounded; one of them is in a critical condition.

·   At approximately 17:30, IOF fired a shell near Abu Bakr al-Seddiq Mosque in al-Zaytoun neighborhood, killing Ashraf Hassan Kali, 16, who was walking near the mosque.

·   At approximately 18:00 on Thursday, IOF artillery bombed an apartment on the seventh floor in the Doctors towers building in Tal al-Hawa neighborhood. The apartment belongs to Jaber Abu al-Naja, 55, former Palestinian ambassador to Senegal. As a result of this attack, Abu al-Naja’s wife, Ruqaya Abu al-Naja, 50, and her son-in-law, Ihab Jamal al-Weheidi, 34, a cameraman of Palestine Television, were killed. Abu al-Naja's daughter, 30-year-old Ihsan, was seriously wounded.

·   At approximately 20:30 on Thursday, IOF troops positioned east al-Shoja'eya neighborhood, opened fire at houses in al-Shoja'eya neighborhood, killing:

1.      Bassel Mohammed Duhair, 20, and

2.      Ala’a Mohammed Duhair, 19.

·  At approximately 21:00 on Thursday, IOF bombed an abandoned house near Shifa hospital.

·   At approximately 21:50 on Thursday, IOF fired artillery shells at houses in al-Sha’af neighborhood  east of Gaza City, killing Albera Vladimir  al-Jaro, an Ukrainian citizen, and her 1.5-year-old child Yousef. Her husband, physician Awni Abdul Rahman al-Jaro, 36, and their children Abdul Rahim, 14, and Yasmin, 13, were very seriously wounded.

·  At approximately 22:30, IOF bombed al-Zaytoun neighborhood, killing two members of the Palestinian resistance, who are:

1.      Baha’a Zaki ‘Antar Salim, 22, and

2.      Asa’ad Mohammed al-Jamala, 36.

·  At approximately 00:45 on Friday, 9 January, an IOF warplane bombed a 6-storey house belonging to Jamal Isma’il Abdullah al-Jarrah in al-Oyoun Street in al-Nasser neighborhood. The house was completely destroyed and a number of neighboring houses were damaged.

·  In the evening, 3 unidentified bodies were brought to Shifa Hospital and al-Quds Hospital. In addition, 31 injuries, including 11 women and 6 children, were admitted into the two hospitals.

·  In the evening hours, medical personnel were able to evacuate the bodies of Ibrahim Mo’in al-‘Abed Juha, 15, and Hazem Khaled Mahmoud ‘Ayad, 27, from an area near the cars market, southeast of al-Zaytoun neighborhood. The families of Juha and ‘Ayad said they were killed on the first day of IOF ground incursion into Gaza City.     

 

Central Gaza Strip

·     At approximately 22:15 on Thursday, 8 January, the body of 'Omar Hammad Abu Meghassib was brought to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Abu Meghassib was killed inside his house when IOF moved into Wadi al-Salqa village and opened fire at houses in the early morning on the reported day.

·     At approximately 12:00 on Thursday, medical sources announced the death of Anas ‘Aref Baraka, 8. Baraka was wounded by a bullet to the head on 4 January in Wadi al-Salqa village , and accordingly was referred to treatment in Egypt.

·     At approximately 17:00 on Thursday, IOF warplanes bombed a house belonging to Khaled Suleiman Abu Hwaishel in al-Boreij refugee camp. The house was completely destroyed and neighboring houses were heavily damaged.

·     At approximately 14:45 on Thursday, ‘Aamer Ibrahim Ba’lousha, 10, from al-Zahraa' town, was evacuated to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospita in Deir al-Balah as he was wounded by a bullet to the head.

·     At approximately 20:00 on Thursday, an IOF warplane bombed a group of members of the Palestinian resistance in the New Camp, west of al-Nussairat refugee camp. As a result, 'Omar Mohammed Nassar, 20, was killed and 4 other civilians were wounded.

·     On Thursday, 8 January, 12 wounded civilians, including 6 children, were evacuated to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. The wounded persons are from different areas, including al-Zahraa' town, Wadi al-Salqa village, al-Nussairat refugee camp and Gaza Valley village.

·     At approximately 01:30 on Friday, 9 January, IOF warplanes and gunboats bombed houses in al-Qura’an area, west to al-Zawaida village. As a result, 7 civilians were killed and 23 others, including 4 children and 5 women, were wounded. Three of the wounded are in serious conditions. The civilians who were killed are:

1.      Mohammed Ibrahim al-Qura’an, 60,

2.      Widad Mohammed al-Qura’an, 25,

3.      Reyad Yahia al-Qura’an, 26,

4.      Mohammed Hussein al-Qura’an, 30,

5.      Hussam Ibrahim Nassar, 21,     

6.      Bassem Ibrahim Nassar, 22, and

7.      Eyad Saber Nassar, 27.

·     At approximately 07:00 on Friday, IOF warplanes fired 3 missiles at members of the Qwaider family near their house in al-Boreij refugee camp, killing Ibrahim Rashid Qwaider, 23, and wounding another 6 civilians, including 2 children and one woman.

·     At approximately 07:15 on Friday, the body of Fawzi Abu al-‘Arraj, 22, was brought to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Abu al-‘Arraj was killed in Wadi al-Salqa village.

Earlier, PRCS medical personnel found 3 bodies belonging to a father and his two children in al-Mughraqa village, south of Gaza City. The bodies belong to:

1.      ‘Ata Hassan ‘Aaref ‘Azzam, 46,

2.      Hassan ‘Ata Hassan ‘Azzam, 2, and

3.      Farid‘Ata Hassan ‘Azzam, 13.

 

Khan Yunis

·  At approximately 14:30 on Thursday, 8 January, IOF tanks positioned on the border strip east to Khan Yunis, shelled houses and farms in Abassan village. At the same time, an IOF drone bombed the area. As a result, two brothers were killed: Mohammed Akram Abu Daqqa, 14, and Ibrahim Akram Abu Daqqa, 12. The two children were on their farm near al-Karam Sports Club in al-Farahin area near 'Abassan village. In addition, Ibrahim Mohammed Abu Tair, 50, was seriously wounded, and was pronounced dead later.

·   At 16:40 on Thursday, IOF warplanes bombed an open area east to 'Abassan village. No casualties were reported.

·  At 16:54 on Thursday, IOF warplanes bombed a 2-storey house belonging to Nour Baraka, a leader of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas, in Bani Suhaila village, east to Khan Yunis. At first, IOF fired a warning missile at the house, and shortly later, an IOF warplane fired a missile that completely destroyed the house and wounded 54 civilians.

·   At 19:14 on Thursday, IOF warplanes bombed an open area east to 'Abassan village. No casualties were reported.

·  At 19:45 on Thursday, IOF warplanes bombed a building belonging to the al-Astal family, to the north of the security services compound in Khan Yunis. The building was completely destroyed. It is being said that civilians were killed and they remain under rubbles of the building.

·  At 20:35 on Thursday, IOF warplanes bombed a 2-storey house belonging to ‘Arafat Madhi, a leader of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas, in Khan Yunis refugee camp. The house was completely destroyed and a number of neighboring houses were heavily damaged.    

·  At approximately 21:00 on Thursday, IOF warplanes bombed a house belonging to Zaki al-Dardissi, an activist of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas, in Ermaida area between Bani Suhaila village and Ma’an area, east to Khan Yunis. The house was completely destroyed. 

·  Approximately ten minutes late, IOF warplanes bombed a house belonging to Isma’il al-Astal, an activist of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas, near Bani Suhaila intersectiont, opposite to Khaled al-Hassan Secondary School. The 2-storey house was completely destroyed a number of neighboring houses were damaged.

·  At 01:00 on Friday, 9 January, IOF withdrew from the east of al-Qarara village. Following the IOF's withdrawal, 3 bodies were found. The bodies belong to civilians who were killed on Thursday by IOF gunfire. A brother of one of the killed people had also been killed on Thursday. During the incursion into the area, IOF destroyed at least 20 houses. The bodies which were found are of:

1.      Hamed Mohyi al-Din al-Smairi, 54,

2.      Ahmed Mubarak al-Shreihi, 65, and

3.      Jihad Awwad Abu Medyif, 55.

 

Rafah

·  At approximately 12:00 on Thursday, 8 January, IOF warplanes bombed the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt in order to destroy tunnels.

·  At approximately 16:00 on Thursday, IOF warplanes bombed a house belonging to Shadi Qishta, near Salah al-Din Gate on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. The house was completely destroyed.

·  At approximately 17:05 on Thursday, IOF warplanes bombed farms in al-Nasser village, north of Rafah.

·  At approximately 20:55 on Thursday, an IOF drone fired a missile at a house belonging to Zeyad Kadash in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of Rafah. Approximately ten minutes later, an IOF warplane bombed and destroyed the house. Many neighboring houses were heavily damaged.

·  At approximately 01:50 on Friday, 9 January, IOF warplanes bombed the headquarter of the Security and Protection Service in Abu Bakr al-Seddiq Street. The headquarter was completely destroyed.    

 

In light of the crimes committed by IOF against the Palestinian civilian population and civilian objects in the Gaza Strip, PCHR:

1)     Condemns these crimes, which are part of a series of continuous crimes committed by IOF in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) with total disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians, considering them a form of collective punishment against the Palestinian civilian population in violation of article 33 of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.

2)     Holds Israel responsible for the lives of Palestinian civilians in all circumstances. Under the international law, the existence of armed resistance does not in any case justify the use of such excessive force disproportionately and indiscriminately.

3)     Warns that the lives of Palestinian civilians are endangered in light of threats vowed by Israeli political and military officials to expand military operations against the population of the Gaza Strip.

4)     Calls upon the international community to immediately intervene to stop such crimes, and calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention, Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, to fulfill their obligation under article 1 of the Convention to ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances, as well as their obligation under article 146 to search for and prosecute those who are responsible for perpetrating grave breaches of the Convention, as such breaches constitute war crimes according to article 147 of the Convention and the Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and Relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I).