PCHR

10 January 2009: 34 Palestinians Killed, Including 4 Children and 3 Women, and the Total Number of Victims Now Mounts to 799, Including 193 Children, 53 women, 6 Medical Personnel, One Palestinian Journalist and 165 Civil Police Officers.

As the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip has entered its third week, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have continued to kill Palestinian civilians, especially children. Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip have been a scene of intense aerial, ground and sea attacks.

Investigations conducted by PCHR indicate that IOF have continued to bombard Palestinian houses and civilian facilities persistently day and night, while the Palestinian civilian population suffer a humanitarian crisis as they lack electricity, water and food supplies. IOF have continued their war on the Gaza Strip with total disregard for international humanitarian standards and humanitarian law and in violation of the resolution issued by the United Nations Security Council yesterday morning calling for a ceasefire. Israel has stressed that it would continue its offensive and has even threatened to escalate it. PCHR is concerned that IOF may commit more war crimes against the Palestinian civilian population. Additionally, IOF have continued to attack and obstruct the work of medical, civil defense crews and humanitarian relief crews. Last night, IOF bombarded al-Jawhara building, in which a number of journalists were present. As a result, one journalist was wounded. The high number of civilian victims and the extensive destruction to public and private property are clear evidence that IOF, instructed by the Israeli political and military establishments, intend to cause maximum deaths and casualties among Palestinian civilians and maximum destruction to their property.

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

Northern Gaza Strip

• On Friday morning, 9 January 2009, Bassam Qouta, 32, was killed by IOF near Hammouda fuel station at Salah al-Din Street in Jabalya town. Qouta is a driver of a truck belonging to Shuhaiber Company, which has a contract with UNRWA to transport food aids for UNRWA through Karm Abu Sale (Kerem Shalom) crossing. The truck driven by Qouta was traveling in a convoy of trucks that were raising UNRWA flags. IOF deliberately fired at the convoy.

• At approximately 12:00 on Friday, IOF warplanes a 2-storey house belonging to Hussein al-Za'anin in Khalil al-Wazeer Street in Beit Hanoun. The house was destroyed. At the same time, IOF shelled a 2-storey house belonging to 'Emad al-Za'anin in the same area.

• At approximately 12:40 on Friday, IOF fired artillery shells at Palestinian houses near the building of the Education Department in Beit Lahia town. As a result, a man and his wife were killed: Mohammed Mubarak Salah, 60; and Halima Saleh, 60. One of their sons was also wounded.

• At approximately 13:00 on Friday, IOF warplanes bombarded a 3-storey house belonging to Mohammed 'Abdul Karim Hamas in Beit Hanoun town. The house was destroyed and one of Hamad's sons was wounded.

• At approximately 14:00 on Friday, IOF fired artillery shells at al-Hawouz area in the east of Beit Lahia town. As a result, Ahmed Ibraim Abu Qulaiq, 18, from the Bedouin village, was killed as he was passing in the area.

• At approximately 16:30 on Friday, IOF warplanes opened fire at al-Shuhada Square, west of Jabalya refugee camp. Tamer Jamal Mahmoud Abu Hulayel, 35, was killed by a gunshot to the chest.

• On Friday evening, medical sources declared that Baraa' Eyad Shalha, 6, and Ussama al-'Abed Bader, 20, both from Beit Lahia, died of previous wounds they had sustained when an IOF warplanes attacked a crows of Palestinian civilians on 8 January 2009. Additionally, Ahmed Jaber Abu 'Atiya, 25, from Jabalya refugee camp, succumbed to wounds he had sustained when an IOF warplane bombarded Martyr Ibrahim al-Maqadma Mosque last week. Thus, the number of Palestinians killed in the attack on the mosque has mounted to 16.

• At approximately 19:25 on Friday, IOF warplanes bombarded with incinerating bombs residential areas in 'Abed Rabbu Street in the east of Jablya. Fire broke out in 4 houses. When civil defense and medical crews started to extinguish fire and rescue civilians, IOF troops position on rooftops in 'Izbat 'Abed Rabbu area fired at them.

• At approximately 20:00 on Friday, IOF warplanes attacked a number of Palestinian civilians near al-Falah Mosque in Jabalya town. One civilian was wounded.

• At approximately 21:00, IOF warplanes bombarded a 3-storey house belonging to Mohammed Rayan in Tal al-Za'tar area in the east of Jabalya. The house was destroyed.

• At approximately 23:00 on Friday, the body of Ussama Mohammed Ahmed Jom'a, 30, a resistance activist from Jabalya, was brought to Kamal 'Edwan Hospital in Beit Lahia. Jom'a was killed in armed clashes with IOF in al-Salatin area, west of Beit Lahia.

• Also at approximately 23:00 on Friday, IOF warplanes fired missiles at a number of Palestinian civilians near al-Khulafaa' Mosque in Jabalya refugee camp. One of the missiles hit a house belonging to 'Abdul Karim Abu Matar damaging it.

• At approximately 09:00 on Saturday, 10 January 2009, IOF artillery shelled al-Sikka Street to the east of Jabalya refugee camp. Thee Palestinian civilians were killed:

1. Daoud Ghanem Farah 'Assaliya, 37;

2. Ibrahim Ghanem Farah 'Assalia, 40; and

3. Ibrahim Mohammed Abu Humaidan, 60.

• At approximately 02:00 on Saturday, 10 January 2009, IOF warplanes bombarded an under-construction house near Abu al-Khair Mosque in Jabalya town. The house was partially destroyed.

• At approximately 02:10 on Saturday, IOF warplanes bombarded a house belonging to Hassan al-Kurdi in Block 2 in the southeast of Jabalya refugee camp. The house ws destroyed and a number of neighboring houses were damaged.

• Also at approximately 02:10 on Saturday, IOF warplanes bombarded a 3-storey house belonging to Zuhdi Khamis Abu 'Amsha in Gaza Street in the center of Beit Hanoun. As a result, 18 Palestinian civilians livening in neighboring houses were wounded.

• At approximately 03:30, IOF warplanes bombarded a market in Beit Lahia. A number of shops were destroyed and a number of houses were heavily damaged.

• At approximately 07:30, IOF warplane bombarded a 6-storey house belonging to Khaled Mohammed Hammas in Beit Lahia. The house and a neighboring one belonging to Fadel Hassan Safi were destroyed.

• Also at approximately 09:00 on Saturday, civil defense crews were able to extract the body of 16-year-ol Mohammed Jaber Mohammed 'Olayan from the debris of his house that was bombarded by IOF on Friday morning.

• At approximately 11:00 on Saturday, IOF tanks shelled the vicinity of al-Qerem Square in the southeast of Jabalya. As a result, Ahmed Mohammed ;Ouda al-Kurd, 30, was killed.

• At approximately 11:30 on Saturday, IOF troops positioned in 'Abed Rabbu Street in the east of Jabalya shot dead Mohammed Mustafa Hussein 'Eid, 19, with several gunshots to the head and the chest.

• At approximately 11:45 on Saturday, IOF tanks shells houses opposite to Jabalya Court. A shell hit a house belonging to Jouda 'Abed Rabu. As a result, 6 members of the 'Abed Rabbu family, including 2 children and a woman, and a member of the Hussein family were killed:

1. Hamed Mafouz 'Abed Rabbu, 17;

2. Yusri Mahmoud 'Abed Rabbu, 16;

3. Ramez Jamal 'Abed Rabbu, 38;

4. Mustafa Rebhi Hussein, 18;

5. Sami Mohammed Saleh 'Abed Rabbu, 25;

6. Randa Jamal 'Abed Rabbu, 45; and

7. Sufian 'Abdul Hai 'Abed Rabbu, 47.

• At approximately 12:00, IOF fired an artillery shell at the house of 'Emad Baba near Sa'ad al-Ansari Mosque in Beit Lahia town. As a result, An'am 'Abed Baba, 30, was killed and another 3 civilians were wounded.

Gaza City

• At approximately 13:0 on Friday, 9 January 2009, Sa'id Suleiman Sa'id al-Rawdi, 53, was killed when IOF fired an artillery shells at the vicinity of al-Ribat Mosque in the east of al-Zaytoun neighborhood.

• At approximately 16:30, IOF warplanes bombarded a 4-storey house belonging to Mohammed Yousef Dababesh, in which 30 people live, in Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in the north of Gaza City. The house was destroyed.

• At approximately 17:00, IOF warplanes bombarded Arafat police compound (al-Jawazat). As a result, Sha'ban Mohammed Sha'ban Mushataha, 22, a policeman, was killed. The compound had been repeatedly shelled during the ongoing offensive on the Gaza Strip.

• At approximately 19:00 on Friday, an IOF warplane bombarded the roof of al-Jawhara building in al-Jalaa; Street. A number of journalists of Media Group Company were on the roof. Manar Shulail Shalloula, 25, a producer of the Saudi News Channel, was lightly wounded by shrapnel to the head.

• At approximately 19:30 on Friday, an IOF warplane bombarded an uninhabited 2-storey house belonging to the Nassar familu in al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City.

• At approximately 20:20 on Friday, 'Ammar Saleem al-Kayal, 35, was killed, when IOF shelled a house belonging to the 'Abdul 'Aal family in al-Tuffah neighborhood.

• At approximately 20:30 on Friday, an IOF warplane bombarded a flat belonging to Mohammed Abu al-So'ud, 30, on the 11th floor in al-Soussi apartment building in the center of Gaza City. Abu al-So'ud was moderately wounded.

• At approximately 22:00 on Friday, Ramez Mohammed Abu al-Khair, 29, was killed near his house in al-Mentar Street in al-Shoja'eya neighborhood when IOF shelled the area.

• Also at approximately 22:00 on Friday, 'Alaa' Hammad Murtaja, 26, a correspondent of the local al-Buraq Radio, was killed when IOF shelled his house in the east of al-Zaytoun neighborhood.

• At approximately 23:00 on Friday, Rasheed Mohammed Duhair, 22, died of wounded he had sustained on 8 January 2009 when IOF shelled his house in al-Shoja'eya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. Two of Duhair's brothers were also killed in the attack.

• At approximately 00:30 on Saturday, 10 January 2009, Ayman Jameel Mohammed Yassin, 18, died of wounds he had sustained on 8 January 2009 when IOF shelled houses near Abu Bakr Mosque in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza City.

• At approximately 01:00 on Saturday, 10 January 2009, IOF warplanes bombarded a store of iron and construction raw materials belonging to 'Abdul Basset 'Abdul Fattah 'Abdul 'Aal, 40, in al-Nasser neighborhood in the north of Gaza City.

• At approximately 06:00 on Saturday, IOF fired an artillery shell at a 4-storey house belonging to Sameer Sa'ad Khalida, 39, in which 5 families counting 40 people live. No casualties were reported.

• At approximately 07:00 on Saturday, IOF warplanes bombarded a 2-storey house belonging to Sa'id Mohammed Abu Matar, 51, in Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in the north of Gaza City. As a result, Mar and his on, 26-year-old Mazen, were killed, and another two members of the family, including a child, were wounded.

• At the same time, the bodies of Shams 'Omar 'Omar, 22, from al-Shati refugee camp, and Jawad Mahmoud al-Hessi, 35, were brought to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The two were killed when IOF shelled al-Sudaniya area, northwest of Gaza City.

Central Gaza Strip

• At approximately 11:40 on Friday, 9 January 2009, an IOF drone fired a missile at al-Furqan Mosque in al-Heker area in Deir al-Balah. The mosque was damaged.

• At approximately 18:30 on Friday, an IOF warplane bombarded a 4-storey house belonging to Ramdan Salama al-Balbissi, 47, in which 5 families counting 30 people live, in al-Nussairat refugee camp. As a result, 23 Palestinian civilians, including 6 children and 4 women, were wounded and the houses was destroyed. Additionally, a number of neighboring houses and al-Furqan Mosque were damaged.

• At approximately 20:30 on Friday, an IOF warplane fired a missile at a number of resistance activists in Abu Marahil Street in al-Nussairat refugee camp. As a result, Ibrahim Mahmoud Wishah, 32, a resistance activist, was killed and 2 others were wounded. Soon after, an IOF warplane bombarded a space land belonging to the Abu Fayadh family in the area. No casualties were reported.

• On Friday evening, 8 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children an a woman, were admitted into al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, as they were wounded by IOF tanks that had moved into al-Mughraqa village and Juhor al-Dik area.

• Over night and this morning, IOF warplanes bombarded open areas in the central Gaza Strip.

Khan Yunis

• At approximately 12:30 on Friday, 9 January 2009, IOF warplanes bombarded the vicinity of Khuza'a Martyrs School. As a result, 2 passing women were lightly wounded

• Also at approximately 12:30 on Friday, IOF warplanes bombarded an open area in 'Abassan village. Two Palestinian civilians were wounded.

• At approximately 18:00, IOF warplanes bombarded greenhouses near Khuza'a Martyrs School. No casualties were reported.

• At approximately 22:15, IOF warplanes targeted a number of resistance activists in al-Qarara village. Jihad Hussein al-Sumairi, 24, was killed and 3 others were wounded.

• At approximately 22:40, IOF warplanes bombarded a building that used to serve as a sewing workshop to the north of the security compound in Khan Yunis for the second time in 24 hours. The building was extensively destroyed, but no casualties were reported.

• At approximately 08:30 on Saturday, 10 January 2009, IOF warplanes bombarded the northern fence of Gaza European Hospital. Parts of the fence and, water supplies, the electricity network, an electricity generator and fuel tanks were destroyed. A staff member of the hospital was shocked and patients were extremely terrified.

Rafah

• At approximately 11:15 on Friday, 9 January 2009, IOF heavy military vehicles moved hundreds of meters into al-Shouka village, east of Rafah. They demolished 13 houses belonging to the Mo'ammar and Abu Sunaima families. They withdrew from the area at approximately 16:30.

• Also at approximately 11:15, IOF warplanes bombarded agricultural areas in Taha Hussein Street in the northwest of Rafah. They bombarded these areas again and again at 18:05, 18:40 and 19:30.

• At approximately 16:40, an IOF drone bombarded a 5-storey apartment building belonging to Sa'ad al-Sha'er, in which 8 families counting 25 people live, in al-Brazil neighborhood in the south of Rafah.

• At approximately 17:00, IOF warplanes bombarded tunnels along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah.

• At approximately 18:30, IOF warplanes bombarded a store of feeds belonging to 'Aatef Timraz in al-salam neighborhood in the south of Rafah.

• At approximately 19:50, IOF warplanes bombarded agricultural areas in al-Junaina neighborhood in the northeast of Rafah.

• At approximately 00:10 on Saturday, 10 January 2009, IOF warplanes bombarded a house belonging to the Abu Julaidan family in al-Salam neighborhood in the south of Rafah. The house was destroyed.

• At approximately 08:15, an IOF drone bombarded a 4-storey house belonging to Adham 'Abdul Rahim Farawana, a member of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas, in which 4 families counting 27 people live, in al-Salam neighborhood in the south of Rafah. Ten minutes later, an IOF warplane bombarded and destroyed the house.

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

condemns these crimes, which are part of a series of continuous crimes committed by IOF in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) with total disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians, considering them a form of collective punishment against the Palestinian civilian population in violation of article 33 of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War,

holds Israel responsible 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,

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,

and

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).

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Source: http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/PressR/English/2008/09-2009.html