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OPT: 17th Day of Continuous IOF Attacks cross the GazaStrip

  • 26 Palestinians Killed, Including 6 Children and 3 Women;

- The Total Number of Victims Mounts to 884, Including 211; Mass Displacement of Scores of Families

As the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) continue their indiscriminate attacks in the Gaza Strip for the 16th consecutive day, the number of Palestinian civilian deaths continues to rise amidst massive destruction of buildings and property. IOF have employed their full-fledged arsenal to bombard Palestinian residential areas. GazaCityand the northern Gaza Strip have been subjected the most aggressive attacks and more Palestinian civilians have been killed. The killing of children has become a basic characteristic of the war in these areas. The increasing number of civilian victims, especially children and women, and the excessive use of force indicate that IOF aim at causing maximum losses to Palestinian civilians and their property. Scenes of victims remind of the Sabra, Shatilla and Qana massacres, which were committed in Lebanonin previous years. PCHR points out that its field investigations indicate that Israelhave used unusual weapons, which could be internationally prohibited, against densely populated area throughout the Gaza Strip. Such weapons include bombs that explode before landing and disperse flaming shrapnel, which causes serious burns that go deeper towards the bones and cuts the limbs. IOF have also used bombs that release white dense smoke that has a disgusting smell, which causes suffocation and fainting. In light of the deteriorating humanitarian situation and the continued killing of innocent civilians, including complete families, PCHR calls upon the international community to immediately act to stop such ongoing bleeding.

This is a summary of the crimes committed by IOF in the Gaza Strip during the last 24 hours.

Northern Gaza Strip

- At approximately 12:00 on Sunday, 11 January 2009, an IOF drone fired a missile at a number of Palestinian civilians in al-Banat Street in the east of Beit Hanoun. As a result, 3 civilians were wounded, including Mohammed Khaled al-Shitari, 21, whose wounds were described as serious.

- At approximately 13:10 on Sunday, Hussein Nazmi Abu Sultan, 40, was killed, when IOF tanks shelled al-Juron area in the east of Jabalya,.

- At approximately 15:35 on Sunday, as a result of the IOF tanks shelling that targeted the same area, two Palestinian children were killed: Mos'ab 'Abdul Mohsen Khader, 12; and Amal Najeeb 'Alloush, 15.

- Also at approximately 15:35 on Sunday, Iman Sami Ahmed Nussair, 23, was seriously wounded, when IOF tanks shelled Palestinian houses in al-Qarman Street in the east of Beit Hanoun town. At the same time, Dalia Fareed Abu 'Ouda, 12, was moderately wounded when IOF tanks shelled al-Amal quarter in the east of Beit Hanoun town.

- At approximately 15:50 on Sunday, IOF fired incinerating shells at Palestinian houses in Zimmu Streetin the east of Beit Hanoun town. Fire broke out in a number of houses and 5 civilians suffered from suffocation. Later, IOF ordered residents of a number of houses in the area through phone calls to leave their houses and move to the center of the town.

- At approximately 19:00 on Sunday, IOF warplanes bombarded a 5-storey house belonging to Ibrahim Ahmed Lubbad, 60, in Beit Lahia. The house was destroyed and a number of neighboring houses were heavily damaged.

- Also at approximately 19:00 on Sunday, Mohammed 'Abdul Mo'ti, 19, from Jabalya, was killed by IOF tank shelling when he was inside his house.

- Also at approximately 19:00 on Sunday, medical sources reported that Fat'hi Shaiboub Ahmed al-Shanbari, 22, from al-Amal neighborhood in Beit Hanoun, died of wounds he had sustained earlier on the same day when an IOF drone bombarded the west of Jabalya town.

- At approximately 03:20 on Monday, 12 January 2009, IOF warplanes bombarded a 2-storey house belonging to Ziad Hamdi al-Masri, 20, in Beit Lahia town. Three members of the family were wounded and the house was destroyed.

- At approximately 05:00 on Monday, medical sources reported that Sa'id Mamoud al-'Emari, 33, died of wounds he had sustained when IOF warplanes bombarded al-FakhouraSchoolin Jabalya on 7 January 2009.

- At approximately 05:30 on Monday, an IOF drone fired two missiles at a house belonging to 'Ali 'Oqail in Tal a-Za'tar area, east of Jabalya. The house was damaged.

- At approximately 05:35 on Monday, an IOF warplane bombarded a house belonging to the family of Mahmoud Fu'ad Abu Matar, who had been killed by IOF, in Beit Lahia town. The house was destroyed and a number of neighboring ones were damaged.

- At approximately 07:20 on Monday, the IOF artillery shelled the building of the Ministry of Interior in the northern Gaza Strip. A Palestinian civilian was seriously wounded and the building was heavily damaged.

- At approximately 07:30 on Monday, 'Afaf Hassan Jom'a, 34, was killed and 3 of her children were wounded, when the IOF artillery shelled a house belonging to her family near Taha Mosque in al-Twam area.

- At approximately 08:00 on Monday, a woman who was killed on Friday, 9 January 2009 in Beit Lahia, was identified by her family. The woman, Amal Ahmed Yassin al-Madhoun, 22, was killed on Friday, 9 January 2009, when IOF opened fire at her house.

- At approximately 09:30 on Monday, the body of a child, 'Abdul Rahman Mohammed 'Atiya Ghaben was found near al-Baraka Mosque in Beit Lahia. He was killed on Sunday when an IOF drone bombarded the area. At the same tome, medical sources reported that Tasneem Yasser al-Rafati, 1.5, died of wounds she had sustained when an IOF drone bombarded her family's house at approximately 17:00 on Sunday.

- At approximately 09:30 on Monday, an IOF drone fired a missile at Old Gaza Streetin Jabalya town. A Palestinian civilian, who has not been identified, was killed.

Gaza City

- At approximately 19:00 on Sunday, 11 January 2009, IOF warplanes bombarded a deserted house near al-Saraya security compound in al-Remal neighborhood. The houses was destroyed and a number of neighboring ones were damaged.

- Also at approximately 19:00 on Sunday, IOF tanks shelled a house belonging to Ahmed Wasfi Mushtaha in al-Shoja'eya neighborhood in the east of GazaCity. As a result, Mushtaha's son, 24-year-old Wajeeh, was killed. When neighbors rushed to the house to rescue the family, an IOF warplane fired a missile at the area. Two brothers were killed: Mohammed Mahmoud al-Jundi, 20, and his brother Munther, 34.

- On Sunday evening, PCHR's field workers documented the deaths of 6 Palestinian civilians, including two children, who were killed in past days. These civilians did not appear on the lists of victims due to the confusion at hospitals because of the high number of victims. PCHR has full information about these 6 victims and they have been added to the total number of Palestinians who have been killed by IOF during the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip.

- At approximately 23:00 on Sunday, IOF tanks shelled a house belonging to Hashem al-Qatati near al-Shifaa' Factory in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of GazaCity. Al-Qatati's wife, 42-year-old Dalal 'Aashour al-Qatati, was killed.

- At approximately 08:00 on Monday, 12 January 2009, IOF troops that had already moved into al-Shaoja'eya neighborhood in the east of GazaCityfired an artillery shell at a number of Palestinian civilians who attempted to evacuate the bodies of two activists of the Palestinian resistance who were killed during armed clashes with IOF. As a result, two Palestinian civilians, including a child, were killed: Jaber Hussein Habeeb, 52; and Mohammed Jamal Mohammedain, 17. The resistance activists who had been already killed are: Mohammed Jamal Nassar, 22; and 'Eid al-Shindi, 30.

- At approximately 08:30 on Monday, Ayman Faraj Shaldan, 35, was killed in armed clashes with IOF in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of GazaCity.

- At approximately 08:45 on Monday, medical sources reported that Jihad Rashad Dalloul, 16, died of wounds he had sustained on 3 January 2009 in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of GazaCity.

- At approximately 10:00 on Monday, the IOF artillery shelled al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of GazaCity. A Palestinian civilian, Mohammed 'Adnan al-Haddad, 19, was killed when he was near his house.

Central Gaza Strip

- At approximately 12:00 on Sunday, 12 January 2009, an IOF warplane bombarded open areas in the northwest of al-Zawaida village.

- At approximately 15:00 on Sunday, IOF tanks shelled houses in al-Mughraqa village to the north of al-Nussairat refugee camp. Two Palestinian civilians, including a woman, were wounded. The shelling continued sporadically until Monday morning.

- Also at approximately 15:00 on Sunday, IOF gunboats shelled al-Sawahra area in the southwest of al-Nussairat refugee camp. The shelling continued sporadically until Monday morning.

Khan Yunis:

- At approximately 12:00 on Sunday, 11 January 2009, as a result of the indiscriminate shelling by IOF tanks that had moved into the east of Khuza'a village, east of Khan Yunis, Ussama Khaled Tahseen Abu Rujaila, 17, was killed. His brother, 15-year-old Sami, was wounded by shrapnel and gunshots and their father, 43, was shocked.

- At approximately 13:00 on Sunday, IOF tanks positioned at border between the Gaza Strip shelled houses in al-Zanna area and Bani Suhaila village, east of Khan Yunis. As a result of the such shelling that continued sporadically for 3 hours, two Palestinian civilians were killed: 'Alaa' Hamed Abu Jame', 20: and Mohammed Younis Abu Jame', 20. Another 6 civilians, including 3 children, were wounded.

- At approximately 18:00 on Sunday, IOF shelled an open area in the west of Khan Yunis. No casualties were reported.

- At approximately 23:00 on Sunday, IOF withdrew from the east of Khuza'a village after they had demolished a number of houses and razed areas of agricultural land.

- At approximately 03:00 on Sunday, 12 January 2009, IOF moved again into the east of Khuza'a village, east of Khan Yunis, under cover of intensive artillery shelling. Thousands of Palestinian civilians were forced to leave their houses.

Rafah

- At approximately 13:00 on Sunday, 11 January 2009, an IOF drone fired a missile at a civilian car that was traveling in al-Junaina neighborhood in Rafah. The missile hit the car and wounded 3 Palestinians who attempted to jump out of the car and a bystander.

- At approximately 14:30 on Sunday, IOF warplanes bombarded agricultural areas near the building of the education department in al-Shaboura refugee camp. The building and a number of neighboring houses were damaged.

- At approximately 15:05 on Sunday, an IOF drone fired a missile near Taha Hussein Streetin Kherbat al-'Adas area in the northeast of Rafah. As a result, Mohammed 'Abdullah al-Sha'er, 24, was killed and Mahmoud Mohammed Abu Louli, 24, was wounded.

- At approximately 15:10 on Sunday, IOF warplanes bombarded the border strip between the Gaza Strip and Egyptnear Yebna refugee camp, Yebna refugee camp and Salah al-Din Gate in the south of Rafah. Two Palestinian civilians were wounded and a number of houses were damaged.

- At approximately 11:00 on Monday, 12 January 2009, IOF warplanes launched 6 air strikes on the border strip between the Gaza Strip and Egyptnear Yebna refugee camp and Salah al-Din Gate in the south of Rafah. As a result, fired broke into fuel tanks I the area.

In light of the crimes committed by IOF against the Palestinian civilian population and civilian objects in the GazaStrip, PCHR:

1. Calls for immediately stopping the IOF offensive on the Gaza Strip.

2. Calls for stopping all collective punishment measures imposed on the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip, especially lifting the total siege and ensuring free and safe movement of persons and goods.

3. Reiterates that crimes committed by IOF are clear evidence not only for the excessive and disproportionate use of force, but also for acts of retaliation against Palestinian civilians.

4. Holds Israelresponsible for the lives of Palestinian civilians in all circumstances. Under the international law, the existence of armed resistance does not in any case justify the use of such excessive force disproportionately and indiscriminately.

5. Warns that the lives of Palestinian civilians are endangered in light of threats vowed by Israeli political and military officials to expand military operations against the population of the Gaza Strip.

6. Calls upon the international community to immediately intervene to stop such crimes, and calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention, Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, to fulfill their obligation under article 1 of the Convention to ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances, as well as their obligation under article 146 to search for and prosecute those who are responsible for perpetrating grave breaches of the Convention, as such breaches constitute war crimes according to article 147 of the Convention and the Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and Relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I).

7. Calls upon international and Israeli human rights organizations to activate their role and raise their voices against war crimes committed by IOF against the unarmed Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip.

8. Calls for establishing inquiry commissions to investigate crimes committed by IOF against Palestinian civilians, including IOF's use of internationally prohibited weapons.

9. Calls for prosecuting all political and military officials who are found responsible for committing war crimes against Palestinian civilians.

Public Document

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