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Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights describes Israeli efforts to avoid hurting civilians as destroy homes of terrorist leaders

PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
Press Releases
Ref: 76/2014
Date: 08 July 2014
Time: 11:00 GMT

Serious Israeli Escalation:

Israeli Warplanes Launch Dozens of Airstrikes on Targets in the Gaza Strip,
Including Houses;

27 Palestinian Civilians, Including 10 Women and 5 Children, Wounded

In the early morning of Tuesday, 08 July 2014, Israeli occupation forces
escalated their military operations against the Gaza Strip. Israeli
warplanes launched dozens of airstrikes targeting many civilian objects,
including houses. Since last midnight, Israeli warplanes launched 69
airstrikes, in which they fired 99 missiles. Targeting houses while their
residents are inside is a serious development as Israeli forces had stopped
the policy of targeting houses since the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip
in November 2012 (“Operation Pillar of Defense”), but resumed this policy in
the context of the current military operation codenamed “Operation
Protective Edge.” As a result of these airstrikes, 7 houses, a blacksmith
workshop and a poultry farm were destroyed, and a number of houses and
civilian facilities were heavily damaged. Additionally, 27 Palestinian
civilians, including 10 women and 5 children, were wounded. At the time of
writing this report, Israeli warplanes are launching more airstrikes on
targets throughout the Gaza Strip, and heavy explosions are heard.

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) warns of this escalation that
will result in casualties among Palestinian civilians and damages to their
property.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, the airstrikes were as
follows:

Rafah:

Israeli warplanes launched 4 airstrikes using 9 missiles targeting 2 houses
and agricultural plots in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah.

At approximately 01:15, an Israel drone fired 3 missiles in about 15 minutes
at a house belonging to Mahmoud ‘Eid Salama al-Hashash in al-Hashash area in
the northwest of Rafah. The 150-square-meter house, where 13 individuals
live, was completely destroyed. The owner of the house stated to PCHR that
he woke up hearing the explosion of the first missile in the yard of the
house. He awoke members of his family, and they all left the house. About
5 minutes later, a second explosion was heard, and after another 5 minutes,
a third explosion was heard. When al-Hashash went back to the house a few
hours later, he found that the house had been completely destroyed.

In the period 11:05 – 11:30, Israeli helicopter gunships fired 4 houses at a
house belonging to Abdullah Mahmoud Al Hashah in al-Hashash area in the
northwest of Rafah. The house was completely destroyed, but no casualties
were reported as the residents were not inside.

Khan Yunis:

Israeli warplanes launched 7 airstrikes using 18 missiles targeting 3
houses, an agricultural plot and a paramilitary site in the southern Gaza
Strip town of Khan Yunis. The targeted houses were completely destroyed and
a number of nearby houses and civilian facilities were heavily damaged.
Additionally, 6 Palestinian civilians, including 3 women, were wounded.

At approximately 01:40, an Israeli drone fired a warning missile at a
320-square-meter house belonging to Mohammed Mohammed al-‘Abadla, in which
two families comprised of 12 individuals live, in al-‘Abadla area in
al-Qarara village, east of Khan Yunis. The Israeli military also phoned al-‘Abadla
on his mobile phone ordering him to evacuate the house. A few minutes later,
Israeli fighter jets bombarded the house, destroying it completely. A
nearby house, the building of al-Qarara Municipality and an office of the
Gaza Electricity Distribution Company were damaged. Additionally, 6
Palestinian civilians, including 3 women, were injured.

At approximately 01:55, an Israeli drone fired a warning missile at a house
belonging to Ameen Ibrahim al-Ghalban in al-Manara neighborhood in the east
of Khan Yunis. A few minutes later, an Israeli fighter jet fired a missile
at the house. As a result, fire broke out in the house which was
extensively damaged. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 02:00, an Israeli drone fired 3 warning missiles at a
170-square-meter house belonging to Samer Ismail Abu Daqqa, in which 6
individuals live, in Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis. The Israeli
military had already called Abu Daqqa’s wife on her mobile phone ordering
the evacuation of the house. A few minutes later, an Israeli fighter jets
fired a missile at the house destroying it completely. A nearby house was
also damaged.

The Central Gaza Strip:

Israeli warplanes launched 13 airstrikes using 16 missiles targeting
agricultural areas and paramilitary training sites. A number of houses were
heavily damaged, and 2 women were injured. Additionally, 2 members of a
Palestinian armed group were wounded, one of whom sustained a serious wound.

Gaza City:

Israeli warplanes launched 9 airstrikes using 11 missiles targeting a house,
training sites of Palestinian armed groups, agricultural lands and a
blacksmith workshop. The house and the workshop were destroyed and a number
of houses were heavily damaged. A Palestinian civilian was lightly wounded.
Additionally, 2 members of a Palestinian armed group were seriously wounded.

At approximately 03:30, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a 2-storey house
belonging to Sami al-Za’bout, in which 6 families live, near Mos’ab Bin
Omair Mosque. Ten minutes later, Israeli warplanes fired 2 missiles at the
house destroying it completely. A number of nearby houses were also
damaged.

At approximately 05:00, Israeli warplanes fired a missile at a blacksmith
workshop in al-Shuja’iya neighborhood. As a result, the workshop was
completely destroyed.

The Northern Gaza Strip:

Israeli warplanes launched 36 airstrikes using 45 missiles targeting houses,
agricultural plots, training sites of Palestinian armed groups and a poultry
farm. As a result of these attacks, 19 Palestinian civilians, including 5
women and 5 children, were injured, 2 houses were partially destroyed and a
poultry farm was completely destroyed.

At approximately 03:00, Israeli drones fired 3 missiles at a 2-storey house
belonging to Eyad Rebhi Olayan, in which 24 individuals live, in Beit Lahia.
The three missiles landed on the yard of the house causing extensive damage,
but the residents survived the attack

At approximately 03:50, Israeli warplanes fired 3 missiles at a house
belonging to Mohammed Shabat, in which 5 individuals live, in Beit Hanoun.
The house was heavily damaged and a car belonging to Shabat was destroyed,
but no casualties were reported.

PCHR strongly condemns these Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. PCHR
calls upon the international community to take immediate and effective
actions to put an end to such crimes and reiterates its call for the High
Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to fulfill their
obligations under Article 1; i.e., to respect and to ensure respect for the
Convention in all circumstances, and their obligation under Article 146 to
prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva
Convention. These grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of
the same Convention and Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions.

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

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