Ref: 136/2012

Time: 13:00 GMT

Azzam al-Shawa’s house in Gaza City which was bombarded by Israeli warplanes – 20 November . Photo by PCHR

Since the beginning of the offensive:

- Palestinian Deaths Rise to 136, Including 91 Civilians, and 941 Wounded, Including 922 Civilians

- 28 Children Killed and 258 Others Wounded

- 13 Women Killed and 149 Others Wounded

- 3 Journalists Killed

Over the past 24 hours, Israeli Occupation Forces have escalated their attacks on houses, streets and civilian facilities located in densely-populated areas.

As a result of these attacks, 31 Palestinians, including 21 civilians, have been killed. The civilian victims include 5 children, 1 woman and 2 journalists.

In Gaza City, 9 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children and 1 woman, have been killed. Israeli airstrikes have also destroyed several service facilities, the most prominent of which is Abu Khadra governmental compound in the centre of Gaza City, which was attacked by 5 missiles that destroyed it and extensively damaged nearby houses, shops, banks and press offices. Israeli forces have also escalated marine and ground shelling. Additionally, Israeli forces have deliberately targeted journalists and their vehicles, killing 3 journalists in Gaza City and Deir al-Balah.

In a very serious development, Israeli forces have forced thousands of Palestinians to leave their homes. On Tuesday evening, 20 November 2012, Israeli aircrafts dropped thousands of leaflets ordering residents of large areas in the northern Gaza Strip and Gaza City, including densely-populated areas, to leave their homes and move towards the centre of the city, amidst violent attacks, which caused widespread panic. At least 3,400 Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip have sought shelter in 3 UNRWA schools. In Khan Yunis, hundreds of Palestinians received phone calls and messages from Israeli forces ordering them to leave their homes, although they are not located in border areas. Many Palestinians refused these orders and insisted on remaining in their homes, because all areas of the Gaza Strip are under Israeli fire. Palestinians still remember the crimes committed by Israeli forces during the previous Israeli offensive on Gaza against civilians who sought shelter in UNRWA schools, such as the attacks on al-Fakhoura School and Beit Lahia School in the northern Gaza Strip, and Asmaa School in the Beach camp (Operation Cast Lead, 2008-2009).

The latest developments since the press release issued by PCHR yesterday noon, 20 November 2012, have been as follows:

The Northern Gaza Strip:

Israeli warplanes have launched 30 airstrikes targeting houses and members of armed groups. Israeli gunboats stationed in the sea fired at least 60 shells at the shore, and Israeli forces positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel have fired dozens of artillery shells at Beit Hanoun town and the Bedouin village. Many Palestinian civilians have been forced to leave their homes for their safety. As a result of these attacks, 3 Palestinians, including 1 civilian, have been killed, and 27 civilians, including 12 children and 4 women, have been wounded.

On Tuesday noon, 20 November 2012, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at members of an armed group near al-Karama residential compound, killing one of them.

At approximately 13:10, an Israeli F-16 fighter jet fired a missile at a 3-storey house belonging to Mustafa Yousef al-Abed al-Mutawaq in Gaza Old Street. The house had already been evacuated, as Israeli warplanes had fired a warning missile at it. The house was destroyed and 3 nearby houses were extensively damaged.

At approximately 15:45, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at members of an armed group in al-Banat Street in Beit Hanoun, killing one of them.

At approximately 19:50, an Israeli warplane fired a warning missile at a 2-storey house belonging to the Dahman family near al-Khulafa Mosque in Jabalya, but no casualties or damage were reported. Ten minutes later, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a house belonging to the Abu Jubain family near Kamal Edwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, but no casualties or damaged were reported.

At approximately 09:00 on Wednesday, 21 November 2012, an Israeli warplane fired a missile in the vicinity of Dabbour farmland in Jabalya. As a result, Mustafa Awadh Mustafa Abu Hmaidan, 23, was killed.

At approximately 12:15, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a member of an armed group near the desalination plant in the northwest of Beit Lahia, killing him.

Gaza City:

Israeli warplanes have launched dozens of airstrikes targeting houses, service facilities, governmental buildings, streets, cars and press vehicles. As a result of these attacks, 14 Palestinians, including 12 civilians, have been killed. The civilian victims include 2 children and 2 journalists. In addition, 89 civilians, including 20 children and 13 women, have been wounded.

At approximately 13:40 on Tuesday, 20 November 2012, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at members of an armed group in al-Nazzaz Street in al-Shujaiya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City, killing 2 of them.

At approximately 15:30, Israeli warplanes fired 2 missiles at 2 cars that were traveling near the Future Club in al-Sabra neighborhood, in which 5 civilians, including a pair of twins, were traveling. As a result of this attack, 5 civilians were killed:

1- Subhi Nemer Mohammed Dughmosh, 29;

2- Salah Nember Mohammed Dughmosh, 29;

3- Ahmed Jameel Hamdan Dughmosh, 30;

4- Zaki Saeed Mohammed Qadada, 42; and

5- Mosab Mahmoud Rushdi Dughmosh, 25.

At approximately 15:45, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at the garden of a house belonging to Rezeq Kilani Aashour in Kishku Street in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the southeast of Gaza City. Aashour was killed, and his grandchild, 8-year-old Mohammed Ibrahim Aashour, was wounded while he was playing in the area.

At approximately 16:00, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at the crowded Baghdad Street in al-Shaujaiya neighborhood. As a result, 4 Palestinian civilians, including 1 female teenager, were killed:

1- Saqer Yousef Khalil Bulbol, 57;

2- Yusra Bassel Murtada al-Shawa, 18;

3- Tariq Awni Mustafa Hjaila, 40; and

4- Mahmoud Mohammed Hussein al-Jaru, 21.

Another 2 civilians were wounded.

At approximately 17:45, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a car that was traveling in al-Shifa Street, in which two cameramen of the al-Aqsa Satellite Channel were traveling. The car was destroyed and the 2 cameramen were killed:

1- Hussam Mohammed Abdul Rahman Salama, 30; and

2- Mahmoud Ali Ahmed al-Koumi, 29.

Israeli warplanes attacked the office of Ghazi Sourani on the 6^th floor of Neima building in the centre of Gaza City. The office was destroyed and a number of nearby offices were damaged. They also attacked Abu Khadra governmental compound in the centre of Gaza City, destroying it and extensively damaging nearby facilities. They further attacked an uninhabited house belonging to Azzam al-Shawa near the building of the Palestinian Legislative Council in the centre of Gaza City.

The Central Gaza Strip:

Israeli warplanes have launched 47 airstrikes and dozens of marine and artillery stacks targeting houses, including a house belonging to Essam al-Dalis, the advisor of Gaza government, members of armed groups and civilians in the streets. As a result of these attacks, 5 Palestinians, including 1 civilian, have been killed, and 10 civilians, including 1 woman, have been wounded.

At approximately 12:30 on Tuesday, 20 November 2012, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a number of Palestinians who were near the campus of Palestine Technical College in the north of Deir al-Balah. As a result, the media officer of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) was killed.

At approximately 18:40, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at Mohammed Mousa Abu Eisha, 24, Manager of the al-Quds Educational Television, while he was walking with his friend, Hassan Yousef al-Ostaz, 22, both from Deir al-Balah. Abu Eisha and his friend were killed instantly.

At approximately 20:00, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at 2 Palestinian brothers, one of them a civilian, in the west of al-Zawaida village, killing both of them. The civilian was identified as Mohammed Ahmed Abu Sitta, 21.

On Wednesday morning, 21 November 2012, Israeli warplanes bombarded al-Sikka Bridge, which links al-Nussairat refugee camp and al-Mughraqa village, and the Coastal Bridge, which links Gaza City and the central Gaza Strip, destroying them.

Israeli warplanes also attacked 6 houses, destroying them.

Khan Yunis:

Israeli warplanes have launched 27 airstrikes and some artillery attacks targeting a police station, an agricultural nursery, agricultural plots, and a house belonging to a member of an armed group. As a result of these attacks, 1 elderly man and his grandchild have been killed, and another 8 civilians, including 3 children, have been wounded. 1 child also died of a previous wound.

At approximately 00:45 on Wednesday, 21 November 2012, and over the course of 5 hours, Israeli warplanes launched 5 airstrikes that targeted a police station in the centre of Khan Yunis, destroying it and damaging a mosque. A number of nearby houses and a clinic were lightly damage. Additionally, 6 civilians, including 2 children and 1 police officer, were lightly wounded.

At approximately 01:15, Israeli warplanes fired 2 missiles at open areas in al-Fukhari village, southeast of Khan Yunis, and al-Mawasi area in the west of the town.

At approximately 02:40, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a house belonging to a member of an armed group, in which 16 people live, in Maan area in the east of Khan Yunis. The house was completely destroyed. The house had been previously evacuated as the owner’s wife received a phone call from Israeli forces ordering her to leave.

At approximately 11:15, Ahmed Awadh Abu Olayan, 14, died of a previous wound he had sustained on 15 November 2012.

At approximately 12:20, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a number of Palestinian civilians who were cropping olives in Abu Nasser area in Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis. As a result, Ibrahim Mahmoud Nasser Abu Nasser, 80, and his grandchild Ameera, 14, were killed, and his son Mohammed, 40, was wounded.

Rafah:

Israeli warplanes have launched 74 airstrikes and some artillery attacks targeting the tunnels area, agricultural areas and paramilitary training sites. As a result of these attacks, 5 Palestinians, including 4 civilians, 2 of them children, have been killed, and 2 women have been wounded.

At approximately 15:45 on Tuesday, 20 November 2012, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a motorcycle in al-Shouka village, east of Rafah. Shawqi Salman Abu Snaima, 28, who was riding it, was seriously wounded. At approximately 21:15, he was pronounced dead.

At approximately 20:05, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a motorcycle on which a member of an armed group and his brother were traveling in al-Orouba Street in the east of Rafah. The member of the armed group was killed and his brother, Khaled Aabed Abu Mur, 24, was seriously wounded. He was pronounced dead an hour later.

At approximately 22:00, an ambulance of Palestine Red Crescent Society traveled to al-Nahda quarter in al-Shouka village, east of Rafah, in an attempt to rescue 2 children who had been attacked by an Israeli warplane at 16:30 near their houses, about 1,000 metres away from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. The ambulances were unable to reach the boys for an hour and a half; after this time, the ambulance crew found the bodies of the 2 children, who were identified as: Mahmoud Khalil al-Arja, 16; and Ibrahim Ahmed Hamad, 16.

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;

3- Calls for establishing an international fact-finding mission to investigate war crimes committed by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, and to take necessary measures to prosecute the perpetrators; and

4- Strongly condemns statements by some States regarding Israel’s right to defend itself while the number of Palestinian civilian victims, including children and women, is increasing; PCHR believes that such statements provide cover for Israel to continue to commit crimes against unarmed civilians.

Destruction incurred to Abu Khadra governmental compound in Gaza City which was bombarded by Israeli warplanes – 20 November. Photo by PCHR

Destruction incurred to Abu Khadra governmental compound in Gaza City which was bombarded by Israeli warplanes – 20 November. Photo by PCHR

Amjad Abu al-Naja’s house in Maan area in Khan Yunis which was bombarded by Israeli forces – 21 November . Photo by PCHR

The car that was attacked by Israeli warplanes, in which two cameramen of the Gaza-based al-Aqsa Satellite Channel were killed. Photo by PCHR

Palestinian civilians forced to leave their homes heading to UNRWA schools. Photo by PCHR

A flat that was bombarded by Israeli warplane in al-Shujaiya neighborhood in Gaza City, in which Yusra al-Shawa was killed – 20 November. Photo by PCHR

A car that was bombarded by Israeli warplanes killing 5 Palestinians in al-Sabra neighborhood in Gaza City – 20 November
. Photo by PCHR

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Related Press Releases:

-Israeli Offensive on Gaza Ongoing for 7the Consecutive Day: 20 November 2012

- Ongoing Israeli Offensive on Gaza: Palestinian Civilian Deaths Rise to 58, Including 18 Children and 12 Women, and 622 Wounded, Including 175 Children and 107 Women 19 November 2012

- Ongoing Israeli Offensive on Gaza: Palestinian Civilian Deaths Rise to 27, Including 10 Children and 5 Women, and 520 Wounded, Including 140 Children and 83 Women. 18 November 2012

- Ongoing Israeli Offensive on Gaza: Palestinian Civilian Deaths Rise to 17, Including 2 Women and 6 Children, and 381 Wounded, Including 107 Children and 64 Women 17 November 2012

- IOF Continue the Offensive on the Gaza Strip: Civilian Deaths Rise to 10, Including 6 Children, and 253 Others, Including 62 Children, Wounded. 16 November 2012

- New Israeli Military Escalation against the Gaza Strip; Leader of Hamas’ Armed Wing and His Bodyguard Extra-Judicially Executed and Death Toll in Rises to 13, Including Two Children and a Woman, While 115 Civilian, Including 26 Children and 25 Women, Woun. 15 November 2012