An open letter for the people in Gaza by Doctors & Scientists

A group of western doctors and scientists addressed a message to the world on the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip describing it as “a ruthless assault of unlimited duration, extent, and intensity”:

We are doctors and scientists, who spend our lives developing means to care and protect health and lives. We are also informed people; we teach the ethics of our professions, together with the knowledge and practice of it. We all have worked in and known the situation of Gaza for years.

On the basis of our ethics and practice, we are denouncing what we witness in the aggression of Gaza by Israel.

We ask our colleagues, old and young professionals, to denounce this Israeli aggression. We challenge the perversity of a propaganda that justifies the creation of an emergency to masquerade a massacre, a so-called “defensive aggression”. In reality it is a ruthless assault of unlimited duration, extent, and intensity. We wish to report the facts as we see them and their implications on the lives of the people.

We are appalled by the military onslaught on civilians in Gaza under the guise of punishing terrorists. This is the third large scale military assault on Gaza since 2008. Each time the death toll is borne mainly by innocent people in Gaza, especially women and children under the unacceptable pretext of Israel eradicating political parties and resistance to the occupation and siege they impose.

This action also terrifies those who are not directly hit, and wounds the soul, mind, and resilience of the young generation. Our condemnation and disgust are further compounded by the denial and prohibition for Gaza to receive external help and supplies to alleviate the dire circumstances.

The blockade on Gaza has tightened further since last year and this has worsened the toll on Gaza's population. In Gaza, people suffer from hunger, thirst, pollution, shortage of medicines, electricity, and any means to get an income, not only by being bombed and shelled. Power crisis, gasoline shortage, water and food scarcity, sewage outflow and ever decreasing resources are disasters caused directly and indirectly by the siege.

People in Gaza are resisting this aggression because they want a better and normal life and, even while crying in sorrow, pain, and terror, they reject a temporary truce that does not provide a real chance for a better future. A voice under the attacks in Gaza is that of Um Al Ramlawi who speaks for all in Gaza: “They are killing us all anyway—either a slow death by the siege, or a fast one by military attacks. We have nothing left to lose—we must fight for our rights, or die trying.”

Gaza has been blockaded by sea and land since 2006. Any individual of Gaza, including fishermen venturing beyond 3 nautical miles of the coast of Gaza, face being shot by the Israeli Navy. No one from Gaza can leave from the only two checkpoints, Erez or Rafah, without special permission from the Israelis and the Egyptians, which is hard to come by for many, if not impossible. People in Gaza are unable to go abroad to study, work, visit families, or do business. Wounded and sick people cannot leave easily to get specialized treatment outside Gaza. Entries of food and medicines into Gaza have been restricted and many essential items for survival are prohibited. Before the present assault, medical stock items in Gaza were already at an all-time low because of the blockade. They have run out now. Likewise, Gaza is unable to export its produce. Agriculture has been severely impaired by the imposition of a buffer zone, and agricultural products cannot be exported due to the blockade. 80% of Gaza's population is dependent on food rations from the UN.

Much of Gaza's buildings and infrastructure had been destroyed during Operation Cast Lead, 2008—09, and building materials have been blockaded so that schools, homes, and institutions cannot be properly rebuilt. Factories destroyed by bombardment have rarely been rebuilt adding unemployment to destitution.

Despite the difficult conditions, the people of Gaza and their political leaders have recently moved to resolve their conflicts “without arms and harm” through the process of reconciliation between factions, their leadership renouncing titles and positions, so that a unity government can be formed abolishing the divisive factional politics operating since 2007. This reconciliation, although accepted by many in the international community, was rejected by Israel. The present Israeli attacks stop this chance of political unity between Gaza and the West Bank and single out a part of the Palestinian society by destroying the lives of people of Gaza. Under the pretext of eliminating terrorism, Israel is trying to destroy the growing Palestinian unity. Among other lies, it is stated that civilians in Gaza are hostages of Hamas whereas the truth is that the Gaza Strip is sealed by the Israelis and Egyptians.

Gaza has been bombed continuously for the past 14 days followed now by invasion on land by tanks and thousands of Israeli troops. More than 60 000 civilians from Northern Gaza were ordered to leave their homes. These internally displaced people have nowhere to go since Central and Southern Gaza are also subjected to heavy artillery bombardment. The whole of Gaza is under attack. The only shelters in Gaza are the schools of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), uncertain shelters already targeted during Cast Lead, killing many.

According to Gaza Ministry of Health and UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), as of July 21, 149 of the 558 killed in Gaza and 1100 of the 3504 wounded are children. Those buried under the rubble are not counted yet. As we write, the BBC reports of the bombing of another hospital, hitting the intensive care unit and operating theatres, with deaths of patients and staff. There are now fears for the main hospital Al Shifa. Moreover, most people are psychologically traumatized in Gaza. Anyone older than 6 years has already lived through their third military assault by Israel.

The massacre in Gaza spares no one, and includes the disabled and sick in hospitals, children playing on the beach or on the roof top, with a large majority of non-combatants. Hospitals, clinics, ambulances, mosques, schools, and press buildings have all been attacked, with thousands of private homes bombed, clearly directing fire to target whole families killing them within their homes, depriving families of their homes by chasing them out a few minutes before destruction. An entire area was destroyed on July 20, leaving thousands of displaced people homeless, beside wounding hundreds and killing at least 70—this is way beyond the purpose of finding tunnels. None of these are military objectives. These attacks aim to terrorize, wound the soul and the body of the people, and make their life impossible in the future, as well as also demolishing their homes and prohibiting the means to rebuild.

Weaponry known to cause long-term damages on health of the whole population are used; particularly non fragmentation weaponry and hard-head bombs. We witnessed targeted weaponry used indiscriminately and on children and we constantly see that so-called intelligent weapons fail to be precise, unless they are deliberately used to destroy innocent lives.

We denounce the myth propagated by Israel that the aggression is done caring about saving civilian lives and children's wellbeing.

Israel's behavior has insulted our humanity, intelligence, and dignity as well as our professional ethics and efforts. Even those of us who want to go and help are unable to reach Gaza due to the blockade.

This “defensive aggression” of unlimited duration, extent, and intensity must be stopped.

Additionally, should the use of gas be further confirmed, this is unequivocally a war crime for which, before anything else, high sanctions will have to be taken immediately on Israel with cessation of any trade and collaborative agreements with Europe.

As we write, other massacres and threats to the medical personnel in emergency services and denial of entry for international humanitarian convoys are reported. We as scientists and doctors cannot keep silent while this crime against humanity continues. We urge readers not to be silent too. Gaza trapped under siege, is being killed by one of the world's largest and most sophisticated modern military machines. The land is poisoned by weapon debris, with consequences for future generations. If those of us capable of speaking up fail to do so and take a stand against this war crime, we are also complicit in the destruction of the lives and homes of 1•8 million people in Gaza.

We register with dismay that only 5% of our Israeli academic colleagues signed an appeal to their government to stop the military operation against Gaza. We are tempted to conclude that with the exception of this 5%, the rest of the Israeli academics are complicit in the massacre and destruction of Gaza. We also see the complicity of our countries in Europe and North America in this massacre and the impotence once again of the international institutions and organizations to stop this massacre.

 The letter is published by The Lancet website:http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(14)61044-8/fulltext

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More Massacres in the Gaza Strip, 506 Killed including 131 Children and 64 Women as the Civilian Casualties Continue to Rise

IOF Commit More Massacres in the Gaza Strip

506 Killed including 131 Children and 64 Women as the Civilian Casualties Continue to Rise

Al Mezan Deplores the Failure of International Community to Protect Civilians

The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) continued its attacks on the Gaza Strip. Attacks on homes and other civilian targets continued to claim more civilian lives.

As the situation in the Shejai'ya neighborhood became clearer, investigations indicate that the IOF bombarded the neighborhood heavily around dawn on 20 July 2014, firing at houses and fleeing civilians. al Mezan verified that 56 dead bodies for people from this neighborhood were received at hospitals; all civilians except on combatant. Seventeen of the victims were children, two medics, and one journalist. Forty people were killed while inside their houses and the rest on the streets as they tried to fled the bombing. many people are still under the rubble of houses that were bombarded by the IOF.

Direct attacks on houses when their residents were in them killed dozens of civilians; including families who lost ten, five and six persons; including the Iskafi family who lost six when IOF attacked their house after the humanitarian ceasefire entered into force. The attack on the Abu Jame' family claimed 26 lives; including 19 children and five women. Anotehr attack on an apartment in Gaza City killed eleven people; including seven children and three women. A third attack on the Ziyada family house killed seven.

As IOF's ground invasion expanded tens of thousands more people have fled the areas under attack and are lacking basic needs. The situation for the general civilian population has grown even more 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 Monday 21 July 2014, at least 505 Palestinians have been verified as killed by the IOF; including 130 children and 64 women. According to Al Mezan's initial investigations 397 (i.e. 78.6.8%) 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 248 (49.1%) were killed inside their houses; and two other disabled women were killed in an attack on a rehabilitation NGO's office. Another 76 civilians were killed while trying flee their houses.

Moreover, at least 2,665 other people were injured during the same period; of whom at least 754 were children and 564 women. At least, 2,945 houses were destroyed or damaged during this period; of which 464 were destroyed completely as the IOF directly and deliberately attacked 462 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 45 schools, 54 mosques, an ambulance centre, 16 NGO offices, 39 fishing boats and 4 hospitals.

In the early morning hours on Sunday 20 July 2014, Israeli tanks opened heavily artillery fire at the east of the Al Sheja'iya and At-Tuffah neighborhoods, east of Gaza City. The shelling continued until midday, when Israel and Palestinian  resistence groups agreed a humanitarian ceasefire for two hours, which was extended for another two hours to recover the people who were killed or injured from the streets, or from under the rubble of houses in the Al Sheja'iya neighborhood. Al Mezan's verified that 56 dead bodies arrived at the Shifa hospital in Gaza City; of whom 17 were children, seven women, two paramedics, and one journalist. Forty out of the 56 were killed inside their homes. Twelve people were killed while they were trying to flee their homes, as IOF tanks attacked them while they were on the streets. There are reports that an unknown number of civilians were still under the rubble of houses when this press release was published. In several cases, whole family members were killed in certain attacks, including the 'Ayyad family, where ten family members were killed, nine of whom were killed while they were fleeing in the Al Mansoura Street. Five members of the Al Hayya family were also killed and six from the Al Iskafi family were killed, too. There are reports which Al Mezan could not verify because of the on-going ground invasion, that another two of the Iskafi family who were killed but still uncovered from under the rubble of their house. The IOF had attacked their the homes of these families directly after the announcement of the ceasefire. Moreover, six members of the Al Sheikh Khalil family were killed while they were inside their home.

At around 8:00 am on Saturday, 19 July 2014, IOF, which invaded the Al Zira'a area, northern Beit Hanoun in the north of the Gaza Strip opened heavy machine guns fire and injured Manwa Abdel Baset Al Bee', 30. She died around 1:30 am on Monday morning, 21 July 2014 from the bullet wounds she had sustained to the chest. According to Al Mezan's investigation, the woman was on her way home, which she and her family had evacuated, to bring some basic needs when the attack took place.

At approximately 11:25 pm on Sunday, 20 July 2014, Israeli fighter jets fired at least one missile at a motorcycle driven by a young man near the Kamal Odwan Hospital in Beit Lahya town, in North Gaza district. One child was killed and the motorcyclist and three children and one woman were injured. One of the injured children, Dina Omar Azeez, 5, succumbed to her injuries at around 6:30 Sunday evening and died at hospital. 

At approximately 12pm on Sunday 20 July 2014, an IOF warplane fired a missile at the house of Salah Al Sha'ir, 55, which is located south of Khan Younis City in the south of the Gaza Strip. The house had not received any warning from the IOF prior to the attack. As a result, four people were killed and nine were injured. Those who were killed are:

-       Salah Al Sha'ir, 55;

-       Laila Al Sha'ir, 30; (Salah's daughter-in-law)

-       Mohammed Al Sha'ir, 5; (Laila's son)

-       Heba Al Sha'ir, 15; (Salah's niece).

At approximately 1:00 pm on Sunday 20 July 2014m Israeli drones fired two missiles at the house of Abdel Jabbar Daraji (Al Mughrabi), which is located east of the An-Najjar Hospital, east of Rafah town in the south of the Gaza Strip. As a result, Najjah Sa'ad Ad-Din Daraji, 49, and her grandson Abdullah, 2, were killed. Another eleven people were injured in the attack. Al Mezan has identified their names as follows:

·      Abdel Jabbar Draji, 54;

·      Odai Abdel Jabbar Draji, 11; (his son)

·      Zahraa Abdel Jabbar Draji, 17; (his sister)

·      Maryam Abdel Jabbar Draji, 20; (his sister)

·      Ghaidaa Abdel Jabbar Draji, 21; (his sister)

·      Yousif Abdel Jabbar Draji, 25, (her brother)

·      Kefah Draji, (Yousif's wife)

·      Nour Yousif Draji, 4; (Yousif's daughter)

·      Khalil Abdel Jabbar Draji, 24; (Yousif's brother)

·      Intisar Draji, (Khalil's wife) and

·      Yousif Khail Draji, 1, Khalil's son.

They were admitted to An-Najjar Hospital. Youisf sustained critical injuries and he was referred to the Gaza European Hospital in Khan Younis. The house was totally destroyed and burnt out due to the bombing.

At approximately 1 pm on Sunday 20 July 2014, an IOF warplane fired a missile into a group of people in the Abassan Al Jadeeda town, east to Khan Younis district, killing a man and a minor and injuring three others. Those who were killed are:

-       Sulaiman Abu Jame', 14; and

-       Mohammed Al Daghma, 25.

Later, at 4:30pm, IOF artillery hit the area and the Zanna neighborhood in Bani Suheila with tens of shells, with warplane also firing three missile, killing four and injuring another four.

At approximately 1:50 pm on Sunday 20 July 2014, IOF fired artillery shells at the town of Beit Hanoun, north of the Gaza Strip. Some of the shells hit the house of Mahmoud Al Za'aneen and injured nine of its residents moderately.

At approximately 2:00pm  on Sunday, 20 July 2014, Israeli warplanes fired a missile at the house of Jameel Shaban Ziyada, 53. The 300-square-meter house of three stories is located in the Al Bureij refygee camp and was completely destroyed. Six people were killed in this attack: Jameel Shaban Ziyada, 53, Yossef Shaban Ziyada, 43, Omar `ban Ziyada, 32, Moftiya Mohmmed Zeyada, 70, Bayan Ziyada, 39, Shaban Jameel Ziyada, 12 and Mahmoud Al Maqadma, 30. Five of the victinms were three sons and their parents, and the sixth was a visitor. The house was attacked without prior warning.

At approximately 2:30 pm on Sunday, 20 July 2014, ambulances were able to collect the body of Turkiyya Al Bess, 77, after they received coordination by the International Committee of the Red Cross. The old woman was killed from shrapnel wounds to her head from Israeli artillery fire they dropped on Beit Hanoun town prior to the ground invasion, on Friday morning, 18 July 2014. Al Abess lived alone in the house her house and was unable to leave when the bombardment started.

At approximately 3:00 pm on Sunday 21 July 2014, IOF fired several missiles targeting the civilian houses near the Eastern Cemetery in As-Salam neighborhood, east of Rafah. As a result, Mohammed Rajaa Handam, 15, was killed and his father Rajaa, 43, was injured while they were at the door of their home. They were admitted Abu Yousif An-Najjar Hospital. Mohammed was pronounced dead after one hour and his father was referred to the Gaza European Hospital due to his critical injury. 

At approximately 4 pm on Sunday, 20 July 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at house that belongs to Abdel Aziz Abdel Al Kurdi, 52, which is located in the Al Bureij refugee camp. The missile hit an apartment on the third floor and killed Ismael Abdel Aziz Kurdi, 21.

At approximately 5:00 on Sunday, 20 July 2014, Israeli fighter jets fired at least one missile at a two persons who were inside their house's yard in Beit Lahiya town, in the north of the Gaza Strip. The attack killed them both. They were identified as: Abed Rabbo Ahmad Zayed, 58, and his wife Aysha Ali Zayed, 54. The attack took place when the couple were watering their garden.

At approximately 2:25 am on Monday, 21 July 2014, Israeli artillery, positioned beyond the separation fence in northern Gaza Strip, fired several shells at the house of Hani Fayyad, located in Beit Hanoun town. Five residents were  moderately injured according to the medical sources at Beit Hanoun Hospital.

At approximately 6:00 pm on Sunday, 20 July 2014, Israeli fighter jets fired at least one missile at the house of Bahjat Abu Sultan in Beit Lahiya town. His daughter, Aya, 17, was killed and his wife, Nasra Abu Sultan, 73, and sons Bara, 19; Alaa, 15; and Diaa', 12, were injured. Their injuries were described as moderate according to medical sources at Kamal Odwan Hospital. The house was also severely damaged.

At approximately 7:20 pm on Sunday 20 July 2014, Israeli aircrafts fired three missiles targeting the apartment of Hani Mohammed Al Hallaq, 29, which is located on the second floor in the Cordoba Building in the Al Remal neighborhood west of Gaza City. Two missiles hit the apartment while the third fell at the entrance of the building. A family, also from the Al Hallaq extended family who had evacuated their home in the Al Sheja'iya neighborhood and sought refuge with their relatives, was present in the apartment. As a result, eleven people from the were killed. Al Mezan identified their names as follows:

·      Hani Mohammed Al Hallaq, 19; (the owner of the house);

·      Hala Akram Al Hallaq, 29; (Hani's wife)

·      Mohammed Hani Al Hallaq, 2; (Hala's son)

·      Su'ad Mohammed Al Hallq, 62; (Hala's mother)

·      Samar Usama Al Hallaq, 29; (nine months pregnant)

·      Sajji Hassan Al Hallaq, 4;

·      Kenan Hassan Al Hallaq, 6;

·      Ibrahim Khalil Ammar, 13;

·      Eman Khalil Ammar, 9;

·      Issam Khalil Ammar, 4; and

·      Rahaf Akram Jumaa', 4.

The three members of the Ammar family lived in the first floor of the building. The members of Jumaa' family had also fled the Al Shejaiya neighborhood and sought refuge with their friends, the Ammar family.  Three other people were injured in the attack and medical sources at Shifa Hospital described their injury as moderate.

At approximately 7:50 pm on Sunday, 20 July 2014, Israeli warplanes fired a missile at the house of Saleh Kafeena in the Al Nusseirat refugee camp in the Middle Gaza district, destroying the four-story house injuring two of the residents were injured. Several neighboring houses were also partially damaged.

At approximately 7:50 pm on Sunday, 20 July 2014, Israeli warplanes bombarded the house of Tawfiq Ahmad Abu Jame'. The three-story-house is inhabited by five families and is located in the Bani Suhaila town, east of Khan Younis district in the south of the Gaza Strip. The house, which was attacked without prior warning, was completely destroyed in the attack. Civil defense and ambulances crews rushed to the destroyed house to uncover the bodies buried under the rubble. It took them until the next day, Monday 21 July 2014, to uncover the victims. Medics found 26 bodies, 18 children and five women. Only three residents survived, and they sustained with varying injuries. Those who were killed are:

1. Fatma Ahmad Abu Jame', 60;

2. Sabah Tawfeeq Abu Jame', 35; (Fatma's daughter)

3. Razan Tawfeeq Abu Jame', 14; (Fatma's daughter)

4. Jawdat Tawfeeq Abu Jame', 13; (Fatma's son)

5. Aya Tawfeeq Abu Jame', 12; (Fatma's daughter)

6. Haifa Tawfeeq Abu Jame', 9; (Fatma's daughter)

7. Tawfeeq Tawfeeq Abu Jame', 4; (Fatma's son)

8. Maysa Tawfeeq Abu Jame', 7; (Fatma's daughter)

9. Ahmad Tawfeeq Abu Jame', 8; (Fatma's son):

10.                  Shahinaz Waleed Abu Jame', 29,

11.                  Ayyoub Tayseer Abu Jame', 10; (Shahinaz's son)

12.                  Fatima Tayseer Abu Jame', 12; (Shahinaz's daughter)

13.                  Rayan Tayseer Abu Jame', 5; (Shahinaz's son)

14.                  Rinat Tayseer Abu Jame', 2; (Shahinaz's daughter),

15.                  Nojoud Tayseer Abu Jame', 4 months; (Shahinaz's daughter)

16.                  Yasmin Abu Jame', 25, who was pregnant,

17.                  Batoul Bassam Abu Jame', 4; (Yasmin's daughter)

18.                  Suheila Bassam Abu Jame', 3; (Yasmin's daughter)

19.                  Bisan Bassam Abu Jame', 6 months; ; (Yasmin's daughter),

20.                  Yasser Abu Jame', 27,

21.                  Fatima Abu Jame, 26, (Yasser's pregnant wife);

22.                  Sajed Yasser Abu Jame', 7; (Yasser and Yasmin's son)

23.                  Siraj Yasser Abu Jame', 4; (Yasser and Yasmin's son),

24.                  Nour Yasser Abu Jame', 2; (Yasser and Yasmin's son)

25.                  Hosam Abu Geinas, 7, who is the house owner's nephew

26.                  Ahmad Suleiman Sahmoud, 34, a visitor.

At approximately 10:00 pm on Sunday 20 July 2014, Israeli aircrafts fired two missiles at an evacuated house near the house of Fatma Abdel Raheem Abu Amouna, 55, in the Tal Al Hawa neighborhood, west of Gaza City. As a result, Fatma was killed and her two-story house was totally damaged.

At around 11:30 pm on Sunday, 20 July 2014, medical sources at an Egyptian hospital announced the death of Rajaa' Hammad Al Daghma, 38, who succumbed to his injures. He was injured on 18 July 2014 in an Israeli attack of Abasan Al Jadeeda, town where he lived.

At approximately 2:00 am on Monday, 21 July 2014, Israeli warplanes targeted two young men near the Al Moghraqa area and killed them; Belal Jaber Al Ashhab, 22, and Abdel Rahman Al Toom, 22.

At approximately 5:20 am on Monday, 21 July 2014, Israeli warplanes fired at least one missile at the house of Hussein Abu Habel, who lives on the third floor of a four-story building in the Tel Az-Zaatar neighbourhood in Jabalia, northern the Gaza Strip. Two of his sons, Eid, 20, and Fathi, 10, and his grandson, Hussein, 4, were injured moderately.

At around 6:00 am on Monday, 21 July 2014, Israeli fighter jets fired at least one missile at the house of Talal Hassan Al Masri. The house is located in Beit Hanoun area, north Gaza. His son Kamal, 32 was killed and the house was severely damaged as a result of the attack.

At approximately 6:30 am on Monday 21 July 2014, Israeli drones fired five missiles at the house of the Siyam family, which is located in the north of Rafah town. Israeli aircrafts had fired several missiles at a park and two houses in the area. When the Siyam family members heard the explosion of the missiles, they evacuated their house. A neighboring family also evacuated; the Abu Sneimeh extended family. The six families (about 34 members) left their homes. As soon as they left, Israeli drones attacked them. As a result, 10 people were killed, including six children. Al Mezan has identified their names as follows:

·      Kamal Mahrous Siyam, 27;

·      Mohammed Mahrous Siyam, 27;

·      His wife Smoud Siyam, 26;

·      Shirin Mohammed Siyam, (Mohammed's sister-in-law)

·      Her sons and daughters Ghaidaa Nabil Siyam, 7;

·      Mustafa Nabil Siyam, 9;

·      Bader Nabil Siyam, 4;

·      Dalal Nabil Siyam, 9 months;

·      Her cousin Ahmed Siyam, 15; and

·      His brother Ameen Siyam, 15. 

Another eight people including seven children were injured in the attack.

At around 6:55 am, on Monday, 21 July 2014, Israeli drones fired one missile at the house of Hussein Ibrahim Al Haj. The three-story-house, which lies on an area of 220 square meters and is inhabited by five families of 18 members. The house is located in in Khan Younis City in the south of the Gaza Strip. About twenty minutes after this first missile hit the house, Israeli warplanes fired a heavy missile, completely destroying the house and partially damaging nine neighboring houses. Alaa Hussein Al Haj, 27 was moderately injured in the attack.

At approximately 7:30 am on Monday, 21 July 2014, Israeli warplanes attacked a motorcycle, killing the cyclist; a minor: Abdullah Abu Hjayir, 16, while driving near the Al Nusseirat refugee camp.

At approximately 8:00 am on Monday 21 July 2014, IOF fired one missile at the house of Mohammed Hasan 'Azzam, which is located in the Al Zeitoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City. As a result, Ahmed Mohammed 'Azzam, 22, was killed.

At approximately 9:00 am on Monday 21 July 2014, IOF fired one missile at the house of Ahmed Fayez Yasin, 25, in the Al Zeitoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City. As a result, Ahmed Yasin was killed.

Al Mezan expresses grave concern by the flagrant violations of international law committed by the IOF and monitored by Palestinian and international human rights organizations. The extensive use of artillery and air attacks has devastated people; especially families who were attack when they were inside their homes.

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;

-       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.

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#GazaUnderAttack A Message from Canadian Friends of Sabeel

Israeli strike on Gaza Strip

July 18, 2014

Most of you share in our sense of revulsion and horror at Israel's manipulation and propaganda disingenuously justifying its vicious assault on Gaza as "defence,".   This criticism is also subtly reflected in the statement of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries in the Holy Land on the crisis.  They observed that  "Israel and Palestine are echoing with the cry of mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, loved ones of the young people who have fallen victim to the latest round in the cycle of violence that plagues this land. Some of their faces are well known because the media have covered in detail their lives, interviewing their parents, bringing them alive in our imaginations, whereas others – by far more numerous – are mere statistics, nameless and faceless. The selective coverage, mourning and memory are themselves part of the cycle of violence."  They expose the the moral bankruptcy behind their violence.  These acts of cruelty by the State of Israel may be War Crimes under articles 146 and 147 of the IV Geneva Convention, and a manifestation of evil.

We endorse Kairos Canada's statement  "Current Violence and Military Action in Israel and Palestine".  We believe that the violence can only be confronted and defeated acts of non-violence, in love. “Breaking out of the cycle of violence is the duty of all, oppressors and oppressed, victims and victimizers. In order to commit themselves to this aim, all must recognize in the other a brother or sister to be loved and cherished rather than an enemy to be hated and eliminated.”  (ref:  statement of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries)

We thus ask all people of good faith at this time to remind all governments of the futility of force as a means to peace, and to pray and act immediately for an end to Israel's onslaught in Gaza, ultimately toward a just peace with reconciliation for all in Palestine and Israel.

Contribute to bringing medical relief to Gaza
One of our Gaza partners, the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, has issued the appeal below noting the damage from the bombings to its hospital as well as the shortages. You may participate in a meaningful way in an act of solidarity and non violent resistance by making a tax deductible contribution to us, earmarked "Gaza Medical Relief", in the face if the violence and destruction.

Petition
Gazans feel abandoned by the international community. With the current attack on Gaza, as well as living under Israeli siege and occupation, Gazans need our solidarity for their very survival, now more than ever.  

Gazans need to hear of your support.
Add your name to this petition and include a personal message of solidarity.
Our commitment to you is that we will transmit your messages to our Gaza partners. 
Gaza – We stand with you.

SIGN THE PETITION AND SEND YOUR MESSAGE OF SOLIDARITY

-----------------------------------
 

 
The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem & The Middle East Diocese of Jerusalem 

14/07/2014 

Appeal for Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza 

Background 

During the past week, the Israeli military has carried out hundreds of airstrikes on Gaza. In the last 36 hours, the IDF has dropped 500 tons of explosives on an area that is the most densely populated in the world, and home to 1.7 million Palestinians. Half of the population is comprised of children. According to the latest OCHA report, published on July 14, more than 1,140 Palestinians have been wounded, including 296 children and 233 women; 168 were killed, of these 133 were civilians, and 36 were children; more than 940 residential houses have been fully destroyed, leaving 5,600 people displaced; 25,000 children have been traumatized and in need of psychosocial support. 

As the Israeli authorities have called up 40,000 reserve troops, there are fears the conflict will escalate and many more Palestinians will be killed, wounded, or displaced. 

Situation at Al-Ahli Hospital 

In the last two days, the impact of the airstrikes has caused structural damages to the hospital, including its ventilation system in the operating theatre and the emergency room. In addition, windows have been broken in many buildings, as well as in the new diagnostic center. 

Currently, and since the beginning of the crisis, Al-Ahli staff have maintained around-the-clock presence at the hospital, receiving wounded people and providing them with the critical medical care that they need. 

Like the other hospitals in Gaza, Al-Ahli hospital is experiencing shortages in medicine, fuel for electrical generators, food for patients, and food parcels for many in the community seeking this help. 

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