Friday, July 11

The Shameful Silence of the International Community On Israel's Operation Gaza Genocide

IOF Attacks on Gaza Continue: 103 Killed, over 600 Injured and 409 Houses Destroyed
Shameful Silence of International Community Must Stop

The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) has continue its military attacks on the Gaza Strip as military operation, codenamed Operation Protective Edge, continued in its fifth day. This press release covers the period since the start of the operation at 3:40pm at 3:40pm on 7 July 2014, focusing on attacks that occurred yesterday evening and today until 1pm. During this period the IOF targeted more houses and other civilian objects. IOF 'warning missiles' fired at inhabited houses caused deaths and injuries to civilians.

As of 1pm today, Friday 11 July 2014, the number of Palestinian casualties resulted from IOF attacks, and verified by the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, has risen to 103; including 23 children and 16 women. According to Al Mezan's initial investigations 69 of the victims are civilians. The rest are known to be affiliated with Palestinian factions, but in most of the cases there is no information that they were taking active part in any hostilities. At least 600 other people were injured during the same period; of whom 173 were children and 140 women. At least 409 houses were destroyed or damaged during this period; of which 128 were destroyed completely as the IOF directly and deliberately attacked 122 of them. IOF attacks also damaged or destroyed 19 schools, 8 mosques, an ambulance center and a hospital,

Al Mezan deplores the inaction of international community as serious violations of international law continue to claim civilian lives in Gaza. Al Mezan strongly condemns IOF's attacks on civilians, which are unlawful and must be investigated and prosecuted. International community must act swiftly to ensure that attacks are not directed at civilians and the aggression on the Gaza Strip is put to a halt.

At around 10:30am on Friday, 11 July 2014, hospital sources announced the death of Sufyan Al Bal'awi, 43. He had beeninjured from rubble that was thrown on his house after an IOF airstrike at approximately 3:35pm on Thursday, 10 July 2014, on a farm owned by the Hamouda family in the town of Beit Lahiya north of the Gaza Strip.

At approximately 1:00 pm on Thursday, 10 July 2014, Israeli naval gunships fired two missiles at the house of Dawud and Fawzi Odeh on the Al-Rashid Street (the Sea Street) in Gaza city. The two-story house was partially damaged and two persons were injured in the attack.

At approximately 5:20 on Thursday, 10 July 2014, Israeli drones fired a 'warning missile' at the house of Mahmoud Al-Astal, located in Al-Katiba area in Khan Younis city south of the Gaza Strip. A few minutes later, Israeli war jets launched fired heavy missiles at the house and destroyed it completely. Several neighboring houses were damaged.

At approximately 5:40 pm on Thursday, 10 July 2014, Israeli drones fired a 'warning missile' at the house of Tayseer Al Mobasher, 
located in Khan Younis refugee camp. Shortly afterwards, Israeli war jets launched an airstrike with heavy missiles at the house and destroyed it completely. Severalneighboring houses were damaged.

At approximately 6:55 pm on Thursday, 10 July 2014, Israeli drones fired two missiles in two separate attacks at the house of Amjad Abu Al Naja. The one-story house is inhabited by Amjad’s family which consists of 15 members and is located in Ma’an neighborhood in the southeast of Khan Younis city in the 
south of the Gaza Strip. A few minutes later, Israeli warplanes launched two airstrikes at the house and destroyed it completely. Several neighboring houses were damaged.

At approximately 6:55 am, on Thursday 10 July 2014, Israeli warplanes fired 'warning missile' at the house of Abdel Rahman Khatab, 68, located in Bouba’, southeast of the middle-Gaza town of Deir Al Balah. One child, Abdel Rahman Khattab, 6, was killed in the attack after he was injured in several parts of his body while he in his uncle’s apartment on the third floor of the house. 

At approximately 10:10 pm on Thursday, 10 July 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at the house of Tamer Awwad, located in the Al Qarara neighborhood in the northeast of Khan Younis district. A few minutes later, 
Israeli warplanes fired a heavy missile at the house therefore completely destroying it and causing partial damage to neighboring houses. One child, Anas Sarsour, 8, was injured in the attack.

At approximately 1:50 am on Thursday, 10 July 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at the house of Abed Abu Teir, located in Abasan Al Kabira town in the east of Khan Younis district. A few minutes later, Israeli war jets launched a heavy missile at the house, completely destroying it and causing partial damage to neighboring houses.

At approximately 2:05 am on Friday, 11 July 2014, Israeli naval gunships fired several missiles at the northern front of Gaza’s Fishermen Port, west of Gaza city. A number of Palestinian fishing boats were destroyed in this attack.

At approximately 4pm on Thursday, 10 July 2014, Israeli aircraft fired two missiles at the house of Ibrahim Al Dabash, 36, in the Al Shabora Block in Rafah refugee camp in the town of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip. As a result, three people were injured; two women and an infant:
-       Amna Al Dabash, 36;
-       Areej Al Dabash; 32; and
-       Raghad Al Dabash; 1 (Areej's daughter).

They were taken to the An-Najjar hospital in Rafah where their wounds were described as moderate. Al Mezan's initial investigations indicate that the three were wounded from a 'warning missile' the IOF fired at the house. The IOF fired two other missiles at the house at 2:10am on Friday, and then a third heavy missile at 2:40am, which destroyed the house completely. The house was inhabited by six people; including 3 children.

An IOF airstrike hit a crossroads near the Saftawi roundabout in Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip, at around 2:15am on Friday 11 July 2014. The attack left a deep hole in the street, cutting transport from Jablia and Beit Lahiya. Seven people; including three children, were injured and ten nearby houses were damaged in this attack.

At approximately 2:25 am on Friday, 11 July 2014, Israeli warplanes fired four missiles at the fifth and sixth floors of the Al Wafa Hospital, in the Al Shejaiya neighborhood, east of Gaza city. The hospital is specialized in the treatment of people with special needs and severe mental conditions. The targeted stories of the building were severely damaged, but no injuries were reported.

At approximately 3:55 am on Thursday, 10 July 2014, Israeli drones targeted Al-Salah Islamic Association, located in the Al Bassa neighborhood in Deir Al Balah town in the Middle Gaza district with two 
missiles. Shortly afterwards, war jets fired two heavy missiles. The bombardment resulted in destroying the eastern side of the building as well as damages to two adjacent schools that serve orphans: the Al-Salah Charity School and Khadija Bint Kuwaylid School. A bakery and two vehicles that belong to the Association were also damaged in in the attack. A number of the nearby Palestine Technical College buildings were also partially damaged.

At approximately 3:00 am on Friday, 11 July 2014, Israeli warplanes fired three missiles at a house of Yasser Hussein, 45. The two-story house is 300 square meters and is located in the Al-Zaitoun neighborhood, south east of Gaza city. Three people were injured in the attack including one woman. Several adjacent houses were also partially damaged. The IOF had phoned the house owner and ordered the house be evacuated within five minutes, warning it would be bombarded. It was then targeted with two missiles fired by drones and the was completely destroyed by a heavy missile fired by an Israeli war jet. The house was inhabited by a family of 11, including 6 children.

At approximately 3:55 am on Thursday, 10 July 2014, Israeli drones fired three 'warning missiles' at the house of Hosny Hamdan, located in the Al Amal neighborhood, west of Khan Younis city. Shortly afterwards, 
Israeli war jets fired a heavy missile at the house therefore completely destroying it and causing partial damage to a number of neighboring houses.

At approximately 3:55 am on Friday, 11 July 2014, Israeli warplanes fired a missile at an apartment on the first floor of the Barcelona Building in the Tel Al Hawa neighborhood southwest of Gaza city. The apartment’s owner, Anas Abu Al Kas, 33, was killed in the attack. Abu Al Kas is a doctor and was in the apartment when the attack took place. Three other persons who live in the building were also injured in the attack.

At approximately 4:00 am on Friday, 11 July 2014, medical sources announced the death Adnan Al Ashhab, 41. He had been injured two days earlier in an IOF airstrike at around8:00 am. Al Ashhab was a municipality worker and was targeted while he was fixing a water-well in the Al-Moghraga village in the Middle-Gaza district.

At approximately 4:15 am on Friday, 11 July 2014, Israeli warplanes fired 4 missiles at the house of Omar Al Natoor, 62, located in the Al Zaytoon area southeast of Gaza city. The attack completely destroyed the 3-story house, which is inhabited by 4 families of 30 members ,including 10 children. IOF had called the family on the phone and informed them of the imminent attack ten minutes before it occurred. The house was then bombarded with three drone missiles before it was entirely destroyed by a heavy missile fired by an Israeli war jet.

At approximately 5:15 am on Friday, 11 July 2014, Israeli aircraft fired three missiles at the house of Abdel Razeq Al Ghannam, 58, in Yebna Block in Rafah refugee camp in the town of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip. The two-story house, which lies on an area of 200 square meters, was bombarded without prior warning and while its residents were inside it. Five of the family members and a relative who was visiting were killed, and were identified as:
-       Abdel Razeq Al Ghannam, 58;
-       Ghalya Al Ghannam, 57 (his wife);
-       Wesam Al Ghannam, 31 (his daughter);
-       Kifah Al Ghannam, 33 (his cousin, who was visiting);
-       Mahmoud Al Ghannam, 27 (his son);
Another 8 people were injured in this attack; including Hossam Al Ghannam, 20, his son who happened to be in the stair-house when the attack occurred, and 7 neighbors. The wounded were taken to the An-Najja hospital in Rafah and their injured were described as moderate.

At approximately 6:15 am on Friday, 11 July 2014, IOF warplanes fired three missiles at the house of Khalil Abu Leila, 60. The house is located near the General Security crossroads, west of Gaza city. The attack completely destroyed the 3-story house which lied on an area of 500 square meters and was inhabited by 4 families of 14 members, including 8 children. The IOF had called the family on phone and ordered the house be evacuated in ten minutes before drones fired two missiles on it. War jet then fired a heavy missile at the house and completely destroyed it.

At approximately 12:10 pm on Friday, 11 July 2014, Israeli warplanes targeted a car which belongs to the municipality of the Al Bureij refugee camp. A number of municipality workers were inside the car when it was attacked. Three people were killed in the attack, including two municipality workers and one passerby child. The people killed in the attack are:
-       Mazen Aslan, 52;
-       Shahraman Abu Al Kas, 40; and
-       Shahd Al Qreenawi, a 9-year-old girl.

In addition, two other passersby were injured in this attack, including one girl, Salwa Al Qreenawi, 10 years, whose injury was described by medial sources as critical, and Salem Al Qreenawi, 20. The mayor of Al Bureij informed Al Mezan that this car was moving around to transport municipality workers to and from home for the past four days, and that it was the only car allowed to move by the municipality under the conditions.

At approximately 12:20 pm on Friday, 11 July 2014, the IOF fired one missile an apartment on the third floor of Building 32 in the Al Sheikh Zayid town, severely damaging the apartment and causing damage to 10 adjacent apartments. five people were also injured in the attack.

At approximately 12:30 am on Friday, 11 July 2014, Israeli warplanes bombarded the house of Suheil Mezyid, located in Beshara neighborhood in the Deir Al Balah town in the Middle Gaza district. The house was completely destroyed in the attack, and two passersby were injured; one of whom, Rami Abu Shanab, 22, critically.

Al Mezan condemns IOF's unlawful, deliberate attacks against civilians and civilian property in the Gaza Strip. Al Mezan reiterates that armed attacks that are deliberately directed at civilians contravene the basic principles of distinction or proportionality and represent war crimes that must be investigated and prosecuted. Al Mezan stresses that warning civilians by firing missiles on their houses represent direct attacks on civilians that have claimed civilian lives; including children, and must be stopped.
Despite the frequent warnings against such expected escalation, killings of civilians; including children women and elderly people in their homes, continue to be committed under disgraceful silence of international community which has failed thus far to act to stop attacks on civilians or protecting them.

As these violations of international law continue, more attacks that fail to observe international law are expected to occur in the Gaza Strip, which urges international community; especially the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to act swiftly and resolutely to provide the due protection for the civilian population that are being victimized by these violations.

Al Mezan calls for an immediate end of IOF attacks and for prompt, swift and credible investigations into attacks where there is suspicion of grave breaches of international law. The prevalent culture of impunity that has fueled such breaches throughout the past years must end. Civilians will continue to pay a high price if international community does not break this culture and provide the due protection for them.

END

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