19 November 2012 — Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

PRESS RELEASE

 

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Time: 12:00 GMT

 

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

 

The number of Palestinians killed by Israeli Occupation Forces in the course of the offensive on the Gaza Strip, that is ongoing for the sixth consecutive day, has increased to 87, including 58 civilians. The civilian deaths include 18 children and 12 women. Over the past 24 hours, many civilian casualties, mostly women and children, have been reported, as Israeli forces have bombarded populated houses, in the vast majority of cases without any prior warning. A number of houses have been destroyed over their residents, causing several civilian casualties. Additionally, Israeli forces have attacked civilian and governmental facilities located in densely-populated areas, and a number of civilian vehicles.

 

In a grave incident on Sunday afternoon, 18 November 2012, Israeli forces killed 8 members of the al-Dalu family in Gaza City. Another 2 members of the family are still missing, since Israeli warplanes bombarded the family home. 2 neighbours, including 1 elderly woman, were also killed, while 9 civilians, including 2 children and 3 women, were wounded.

 

The latest developments since the press release issued by PCHR yesterday noon, 18 November 2012, have been as follows:

 

The Northern Gaza Strip:

 

Since Sunday evening, 18 November 2012, Israeli forces have launched 41 airstrikes, targeting houses, civilian vehicles, agricultural plots and open areas. As a result of these attacks, 5 Palestinian civilians, including two children, have been killed, and 35 others, including 10 children and 10 women, have been wounded.

 

At approximately 16:30 on Sunday, 18 November 2012, Israeli warplanes fired two missiles at a vehicle which is used to distribute clean water, in which Suhail Aashour Mohammed Hamada, 42, and his child, 10-year-old Aashour, were traveling in Beir al-Naja area in Beit Lahia. The father and his child were instantly killed.

 

At approximately 22:00 also on Sunday, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at Jalal Mohammed Saleh Nasser, 42, and his child, 8-year-old Hussein, while they were maintaining the water

 

network on the roof of their house at Abu Sharekh intersection in Jabalya town. The father and his child were instantly killed.

 

At approximately 05:50 on Monday, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at Abdul Rahman Mohammed al-Attar, 51, when he was in front of his house in Beit Lahia town, killing him instantly.

 

Gaza City:

 

Israeli forces have launched dozens of airstrikes on Gaza City, targeting houses and security and police facilities. The most serious attack targeted the house of the al-Dalu family, in which 8 members of the family were killed; another two people are still missing. 2 neighbors were also killed, and another 9 civilians, including 2 children and 3 women, were wounded.

 

According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 14:30 on Sunday, an Israeli F-16 fighter jet fired a missile at a 4-storey house belonging to Jamal Mahmoud Yassin al-Dalu, 52. 3 families comprising 11 individuals live in the house, which is situated opposite to Bank of Palestine in al-Nasser Street in the north of Gaza City. The house was completely destroyed with residents inside. As a result, 8 members of the family (4 children and 4 women) were killed; the Civil Defense crews have removed their bodies from the debris. The victims include a mother and her 4 children. The victims whose bodies have been found and identified are:

 

1- Samah Abdul Hamid al-Dalu, 27;

2- Jamal Mohammed Jamal al-Dalu, 6;

3- Yousef Mohammed Jamal al-Dalu, 4;

4- Sarah Mohammed Jamal al-Dalu, 7;

5- Ibrahim Mohammed Jamal al-Dalu, 1;

6- Tahani Hassan al-Dalu, 52;

7- Suhaila Mahmoud al-Dalu, 73; and

8- Raneem Jamal al-Dalu, 22.

 

Rescue crews are still searching for 2 members of the family who are still missing: Yara Jamal Mahmoud al-Dalu, 17; and Mohammed Jamal Mahmoud al-Dalu, 29. As a result of this violent attack, several nearby houses were destroyed, including one that belongs to the al-Muzannar family where 2 civilians, including an old woman, were killed:

 

1- Ameena Matar al-Mauzannar, 83; and

2- Abdullah Mohammed al-Muzannar, 19.

 

Additionally, 9 civilians, including 2 children and 3 women, were wounded in the attack.

 

At approximately 03:00 on Monday, an Israeli F-16 fighter jet fired a missile at a 4-storey house belonging to Mohammed Khalil Azzam, 55, in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza City, after Israeli drones had fired 3 warning missiles at the house. As a result, the house, which had been already vacated, was completely destroyed. Four nearby houses, whose residents were unable to leave, were also destroyed, and 4 civilians, including 3 members of the same family (2 women and 1 child) were killed:

 

1- Sahar Fadi Abu Zour, 20;

2- Nisma Helmi Abu Zour, 21;

3- Mohammed Eyad Abu Zour, 5; and

4- Aahed Hamdi al-Qatati, 34.

 

Israeli warplanes bombarded the building of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in the centre of Gaza City, al-Abbas police station in the west of the City, and al-Shujaiya police station in the west of the City, destroying them completely. A number of nearby houses, civilian facilities and press offices were extensively damaged.

 

In other airstrikes, 7 Palestinians, including 3 civilians were killed:

 

At approximately 21:00 on Sunday, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a motorcycle that was traveling near al-Maliya intersection in the west of Gaza City. 2 civilians who were traveling on it were instantly killed:

 

1- Nabeel Ahmed Ouda Abu Amra, 28; and

2- Ahmed Mohammed Abu Amra, 40.

 

At midnight, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at Mohammed Salama Sadi Jundiya, 31, who is mentally disabled, when he was near the Friday Market in al-Shujaiya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City, killing him.

 

4 members of Palestinian armed groups were also killed in 3 separate attacks in Gaza City.

 

Over the past 24 hours, 50 civilians, including 20 children and 8 women, have been wounded as a result of Israeli attacks in Gaza City.

 

The Central Gaza Strip:

 

Israeli forces have launched 16 air strikes on the central Gaza Strip, targeting houses, gatherings of civilians and a number of civilian facilities. As a result of these attacks, 5 Palestinian civilians have been killed, and 14 others, including 4 women and 3 children, have been wounded. A member of an armed group also died of wounds received in a pervious attack.

 

At approximately 17:45 on Sunday, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a group of Palestinian civilians near al-Rahma Mosque in al-Nussairat refugee camp. As a result, 2 civilians were killed:

 

1- Atiya Abdullah Mubarak, 56; and

2- Hussam Hussein Abu Shawish, 37.

 

Another 2 civilians were wounded.

 

At approximately 07:30 on Monday, an Israeli warplane fired upon a van loaded with vegetables in al-Birka Street in the south of Deir al-Balah. As a result, 3 civilians who were traveling in it were killed:

 

1- Tamer Rushdi Bashir, 31;

2- Ameed Zuhdi Bashir, 41; and

3- Rashid Olayan Abu Amra, 51.

 

On Monday morning, medical sources at the European Gaza Hospital declared that a member of an armed group died of wounds he had sustained on 16 November 2012.

 

Khan Yunis:

 

Israeli forces have launched 9 airstrikes, targeting civilians, houses, a police station and agricultural areas. As a result of these attacks, 4 Palestinian civilians, including 1 child, have been killed, and 4 others, including 2 children, were wounded.

 

At approximately 08:20 on Sunday, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at 2 Palestinian civilians, a man and his nephew, who were walking towards their agricultural land in al-Satar al-Gharbi area in the northwest of Khan Yunis. The 2 civilians were instantly killed:

 

1- Ibrahim Mohammed Suleiman al-Astal, 48; and

2- Omar Mahmoud Mohammed al-Astal, 14.

 

At approximately 09:40, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a group of Palestinian civilians near Abdullah Bin Rawaha Mosque in Maan area in the east of Khan Yunis. 2 civilians were killed:

 

1- Abdullah Harb Salem Abu Khater, 21; and

2- Mahmoud Saeed Abu Khater, 34.

 

1 civilian was also wounded.

 

Rafah:

 

Israeli forces have launched 50 airstrikes on Rafah, including 20 targeted at the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, where the tunnels are located. Other airstrikes have targeted houses, farmlands and a police station. As a result of these attacks, 2 Palestinians, including 1 civilian, have been killed, and 6 civilians, including 2 women and 1 child, have been wounded.

 

At approximately 15:45 on Sunday, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a taxi that was traveling near al-Abadla fuel station in Musabbeh neighborhood in the north of Rafah. 2 members of an armed group were traveling in the taxi. As a result of the attack, the taxi driver, Saif al-Din Mahmoud Sadiq, 27, and one of the two members of an armed group, both from Khan Yunis, were killed. The other armed group member was wounded.

 

3 members of the al-Hashash family, including 1 woman, were wounded when Israeli warplanes bombarded their house in the northwest of Rafah.

 

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; and

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.

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.

 

Public Document

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For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893

PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org