On the 10th Day of the Israeli Offensive: 4 Palestinian Children Killed in Gaza City
312 Houses Targeted and Destroyed and Hundreds of Others Extensively Damaged
Thousands of Palestinian Civilians Forcibly Displaced
Israeli occupation forces have continued their brutal and immoral offensive on the Gaza Strip for the 8th consecutive day, and have continued the policy of collective punishment in disregard for the international law and humanitarian law, which ensure protection for civilians in times of war, and in violation of the principles of necessity, proportionality and distinction. Israeli forces have continued their aerial, ground and sea attacks throughout the Gaza Strip, causing more civilian casualties and damaging civilian facilities, including houses and mosques. In disregard for the lives of children, Israeli forces killed 4 Palestinian children while they were playing at the beach in Gaza City. At night, Israeli forces accepted a truce suggested by the United Nations for 6 hours on Thursday, 17 July 2014. PCHR is concerned that Israeli forces may attack Palestinian civilians during this truce, like what happened during "Operation Cast Lead" (2008-2009).
From 10:00 on Wednesday, 16 July 2014 to 10:00 on Thursday, 17 July 2014, 26 Palestinians, 21 of whom are civilians including 9 children and 3 women, were killed. Additionally, 119 Palestinians, mostly civilians, were wounded – this number includes 31 children and 52 women. Israeli warplanes also targeted and destroyed 26 houses.
The latest developments since the press release issued by PCHR yesterday noon have been as follows:
The Northern Gaza Strip:
Israeli warplanes launched 48 airstrikes and Israeli tanks and gunboats fired dozens of shells targeting houses, agricultural plots, open areas and a mosque. As a result of these attacks, a Palestinian child and a member of an armed group were killed, and 23 others, including 9 children and 5 women, were wounded. Additionally, Israeli warplanes targeted 5 houses and destroyed 3 of them.
The most significant attacks were as follows:
- At approximately 16:00 on Wednesday, 16 July 2014, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at Othman Bin 'Affan Mosque in Be'r al-Na'ja area. As a result, 5-year-old Ra'ed Mohammed Sari was killed, and 3 civilians, including the child's father, were wounded.
- At approximately 20:50, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a 4-storey house belonging to the al-Madhoun family in Beit Lahia. The house was damaged.
- At approximately 21:15, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belong to Mohammed Wirsh Agha in Beit Lahia. The house was completely destroyed.
- At approximately 23:50, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a 5-storey house belonging to Fathi Hammad, former Minister of Interior, in Beit Lahia. The house was damaged.
- At approximately 00:45 on Thursday, 17 July 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to 'Omar Hassan al-Far in Jabalya. Soon after, an Israeli warplanes launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.
- At approximately 04:20, an Israeli drone fired a missile at members of a Palestinian armed groups in al-'Atatra area in Beit Lahia, killing one of them, Ahmed Rajab Raihan, 23, and wounded 3 others.
- At approximately 06:30, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to Sah'ban Mohammed Dakka in Jabalya. Soon after, an Israeli warplanes launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.
Gaza City:
Israeli warplanes launched 20 airstrikes and Israeli gunboats and tanks fired shells targeting houses, civilians, agricultural lands and open areas. As a result of these attacks, 7 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, were killed, and 45 others, including 8 children and 8 women, were wounded. Additionally, 9 houses were targeted and 8 of them and a money exchange shop were destroyed.
The most significant attacks were as follows:
- At approximately 11:00 on Wednesday, 16 July 2014, Israeli drone fired 2 missiles at a 5-storey house belonging to Rafiq Ismail al-Nu'aizi, in which 40 people live, in al-Shuja'iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. Soon after, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it. Before the attack, Israeli forces had phoned the owner and order evacuation of the house.
- At approximately 11:30, Israeli drone fired 2 missiles at a 3-storey house belonging to Sa'id Ramadan Haddad, in which 25 people live, in al-Sha'af neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. Soon after, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it. Before the attack, Israeli forces had phoned the owner and order evacuation of the house.
- At approximately 12:30, Israeli drone fired 2 missiles at a 3-storey house belonging to Jaber Jabr Jundiya, in which 20 people live, in al-Shuja'iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. The house was extensively damaged.
- At approximately 13:00, Israeli drone fired 2 missiles at a 4-storey house belonging to Khaled Mustafa Harara, in which 4 families live, in al-Shuja'iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. Soon after, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.
- At approximately 14:00, Israeli drone fired 2 missiles at a 3-storey house belonging to 'Aahed Mohammed Habib, in which 12 people live, in al-Shuja'iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. Soon after, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.
- At approximately 15:00, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at 'Abdul Rahman Ibrahim Khalil al-Serji, 37, and his child, 16-year-old 'Omar, who were on an agricultural plot belonging to the family in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the southeast of Gaza City. As a result, the father was killed and the child was seriously wounded.
- At approximately 16:10, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a number of Palestinian children who were playing at Gaza beach. As a result, 4 children were killed: Zakaria 'Aahed Bakr, 10; Ismail Mohammed Subhi Bakr, 10; Mohammed Ramez 'Ezzat Bakr, 11; and 'Aahed 'Aattaf 'Aahed Bakr, 10. A fifth child, 8-year-old Hamada Khamis Bakr, was seriously wounded.
The children of the Bakr family run away from an Israeli attack at the beach
The place where the children were attcked
- At approximately 18:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at 3 Palestinian civilians who were sitting near the debris of a house that had been destroyed by Israeli warplane in Sheikh 'Ejlin neighborhood in the southwest of Gaza City. Two civilians were killed: Hussam Jamal Hassouna Shamallakh, 30; and Mohammed Kamel Mohammed 'Abdul Rahman, 32. The third civilian was wounded.
- At approximately 00:30 on Thursday, 17 July 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to Maher Saleh Farawana, in which 17 people live, in Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in the south of Gaza City. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.
- Also at approximately 00:30, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a 6-storey house belonging to Amal Yousef Muhanna, in which 43 people live, in al-Nafaq Street in Gaza City. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.
- At approximately 01:30, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a currency exchange shop belonging to Maher Musbah Abu Ghanima in al-Jalaa' Street in the center of Gaza City. The shop was destroyed. Abu Ghanima's house had been also attacked on 15 July 2014.
- At approximately 03:30, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to Hamza Subhi al-Yazji, in which 35 people live, in al-Yarmouk Street in Gaza City. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.
- At approximately 09:30, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a 2-storey house belonging to Arafat Mohammed al-Minawi, a university lecturer, in which 23 people live, in al-Shuja'iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it
The Central Gaza Strip:
Israeli warplanes launched 14 airstrikes targeting houses, agricultural lands and open areas. As a result of these attacks, 2 Palestinians, including a civilians, were killed, and 14 others, including 6 women and 2 children, were wounded. Six houses and a store were also destroyed.
The most significant attacks were as follows:
- At approximately 17:30 on Wednesday, 16 July 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a 3-storey house belonging to Shihda 'Abed Rabbu Abu Dahrouj, in which 15 people live, in al-Zawaida village. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.
- At approximately 18:30, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a store under a house belonging to Kamel 'Eid al-Hawajari in al-Nussairat refugee camp. The store was destroyed.
- At approximately 19:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to 'Alaa' Mahmoud al-Danaf, in which 8 people live, in Deir al-Balah. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.
- At approximately 19:10, an Israeli drone fired a missile at an inhabited house belonging to Hatem Yousef al-Roubi in al-Boreij refugee camp. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.
- At approximately 19:30, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a 2-storey house belonging to the heirs of Waleed Jaber Abu Hain, in which 8 people live, in Gaza Valley village. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.
- At approximately 21:40, an Israeli drone fired a missiles at members of a Palestinian armed group in Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah, wounding 2 of them. One of them, Mohammed Mahmoud Ibrahim al-Qaddem, 22, died of his wound later.
- At approximately 02:00 on Thursday, 17 July 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to Ma'awia Mahmoud Basheer, in which 8 people live, in Deir al-Balah. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.
- At approximately 06:00, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a house belonging to Salem Saleh 'Olayan Fayad in Deir al-Balah. As a result Fayad was killed, and another two residents of the house were wounded.
Khan Yunis:
Israeli warplanes launched 30 airstrikes targeting houses, agricultural plots and open areas in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis. Israeli tanks and gunboats also fired dozens of shells at agricultural and open areas. As a result, 10 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children and 3 women, were killed, and 22 others, including 3 children and 6 women, were wounded. Israeli warplanes also targeted 4 houses and destroyed 2 of them. They also bombarded a flat and damaged it.
The most significant attacks were as follows:
- At approximately 11:15, Israeli tanks positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired a number of shells at Abu Tu'aima area in the east of 'Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis. As a result 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded: Mo'men Mohammed Abu Tu'aima, 30; and Siraj Tariq Abu Tu'aima, 12.
- At approximately 11:25, Israeli drones fired 2 missiles at a civilian car that was traveling in Bani Suhila village, east of Khan Yunis. As a result, 3 civilian passengers were killed: Khadra al-'Aabed Salama Abu Daqqa, 65; 'Omar Ramdan Hassan Abu Daqqa; and Ibrahim Ramdan Hassan Abu Daqqa, 10. Additionally, 3 members of the family who were also traveling in the car were also wounded. Additionally, 7 passing civilians, including 4 women, were wounded.
- At approximately 16:25, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a shed on an agricultural plot in al-Satar al-Gharbi area in the north of Khan Yunis, destroying it and wounded 3 Palestinian civilians.
- At approximately 17:20, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a flat belonging to the 'Abdul 'Aati family in the Austrain neighborhood in the west of Khan Yunis. The flat was damaged and fired broke out in it.
- At approximately 17:35, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at two Palestinians brothers were sitting in the yard of their house in 'Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis. The two civilians were killed: Akram and Kamal Mohammed Abu 'Aamer, 32 39 respectively.
- At approximately 18:55, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a number of Palestinian civilians who were sitting in the year of a house belonging to Kawthar Hussein al-Astal, 58, in al-Katiba neighborhood in Khan Yunis. As a result, she and 3 of her relatives, including 2 children, were killed: Ussama and Yasmeen Mahmoud Hussein al-Atal, 8 and 4 respectively; and Hussein 'Abdul Nasser Hussein al-Astal, 23.
- At approximately 20:45, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to te al-Hajj family in Khan Yunis refugee camp. About 15 minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a nearby 3-storey house belonging to Su'ad 'Ali al-Zayani, in which 21 people live, and destroyed it.
- At approximately 22:30, Israeli drones fired 2 missiles at a 3-storey house belonging to the sons of Kamel Sleem al-Saqqa, and a house belonging to their mother, Zainab Sa'id Mohammed al-'Abadla, 73. As a result, the woman was seriously wounded. She died of her wound on the following day morning.
- At approximately 22:00, Israeli drones fired a 2 missiles at a house belonging to Fu'ad Furaij Abu Ma'rouf in Jourat al-Lout area in the south of Khan Yunis. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at the house, damaging it extensively.
- At approximately 22:50, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the vicinity of al-Iman Mosque in Bani Suhaila village, east of Khan Yunis. The mosque was damaged, but no casualties were reported.
- At approximately 01:15 on Thursday, 17 July 2014, Israeli tanks positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired a number of shells at Palestinian communities in the east of Khan Yunis. As a result, a water tank, agricultural plots, a minaret and a mosque were damaged, and 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded.
- Also at approximately 01:15, Israeli gunboats shelled Khan Yunis beach. No casualties were reported.
- At approximately 04:10, Israeli warplane launched 7 airstrikes on agricultural plots in al-Manara, Ma'an, al-Satar al-Gharbi and al-Qarara areas. No casualties were reported.
- At approximately 05:30, Israeli drones fired 2 missiles at a house belonging to Qais 'Adnan al-'Assar in al-Manara neighborhood in the south of Khan Yunis. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed.
Rafah:
Israeli warplanes launched 35 airstrikes targeting houses, agricultural lands and open areas in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. As a result, 5 Palestinians, including 2 civilians, were killed, and 15 others, including 5 children and 4 women, were wounded. Two houses were destroyed.
The most significant attacks were as follows:
- At approximately 19:10 on Wednesday, 16 July 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to Ahmed Najem al-Masri, in which 7 people live, near Saladin Date in the south of Rafah without a prior warning. Twenty minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it. A number of nearby houses were damaged.
- At approximately 21:15, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a motorbike in Musabbeh neighborhood in the north of Rafah. As a result, Mohammed 'Abdul Hadi al-Masri, 27, a nurse, who was riding the motorbike was seriously wounded.
- At approximately 01:00 on Thursday, 17 July 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to 'Aadel 'Abdul Hamid al-'Attar, in which 11 people live, in Yebna refugee camp in the south of Rafah. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it. Before the attack, Israeli forces phoned a neighbor ordering evacuation of the house.
- At approximately 04:20, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a number of Palestinian civilians who were on their way to a mosque in al-Junaina neighborhood in Rafah for the Dawn Prayer. As a result, Mohammed 'Abdul Rahman Hassouna, 70, was killed, and Mohammed Ahmed al-Hout, 35, was seriously wounded. He died a few hours later.
- At approximately 09:30, Israeli drones fired 2 missiles at 3 members of a Palestinian armed group in al-Nasser village, north of Rafah, killing them instantly: Mohammed Nabil Ghanem, 27; 'Abdullah Salem al-Akhras, 30; and Basheer Mohammed 'Abdul 'Aal, 19.
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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; and
3) Calls for establishing a UN fact-finding mission to investigate suspected war crimes committed by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, and take necessary steps to prosecute responsible for them.
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