IOF Fired an Artillery Shell East of Jabalia

28-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 2:40pm on Monday 28 February 2011, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) fired an artillery shell at the agricultural area north of the Islamic Martyrs cemetery, east of Jabalia town. No casualties or injuries were reported but it scared farmers and they abandoned the area without finishing their farming activities.

Limited IOF Incursion East of Rafah Town

28-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 9am on Monday 28 February 2011, seven Israeli tanks moved about 300 meters into the An-Nahda neighborhood east of Rafah town. The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) fired several artillery shells at Gaza International Airport. As a result, one person was injured in the legs. Medical sources at Abu Yousif An-Najjar Hospital described his injury as moderate.

[Note: according to PCHR the wounded is a member of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades] 

IOF Kills Palestinian Civilian Collecting Scrap and Rubble in North Gaza District

28-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 10am on Monday 28 February 2011, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) opened fire at a group of Palestinian civilians as they were collecting scrap material and rubble from destroyed structures near the border fence between Gaza and Israel. The group was about 300 meters from the border fence west of Buret Abu Samra area north of Beit Lahiya, in the North Gaza district when the IOF fired at them. As a result, Omar Arafa Abdel Lateef Ma'rouf, 20, was severely injured.

At approximately 11am on the same day, three Israeli tanks moved under sporadic fire at the same area and took Ma'rouf to Israel. At approximately 2pm on the same day, the IOF submitted Ma'rouf's dead body to the Palestinian Liaison Office (CLO), which is located in the Ministry of Civil Affairs’ office at the Erez crossing in the north of the Gaza Strip. The dead body was admitted to Shifa Hospital in Gaza city.

IOF Injure Palestinian Civilians Collecting Scrap North of Beit Lahyia Town

26-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 11:40am on Saturday 26 February 2011, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) opened fire at a group of Palestinian civilians who were collecting scrap and rubble from the destroyed structures near the border fence between Gaza and Israel. The group was about 300 meters from the border fence near the evacuated settlement Eli Sinai northwest of Beit Lahyia, in the North Gaza district, when IOF fired at them. As a result, Khalid Mohammed Mustafa Al Hsoumi, 36, was injured in the right leg, causing a fracture in it. Medical sources at Kamal Odwan Hospital described his injuries as severe. Other civilians in who were the area were terrified and left their work.

Israeli Aircraft Attacks a Rest House in Al Bureij Refugee Camp

26-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 3:30am on Saturday 26 February 2011, an Israeli aircraft fired a missile at a rest house owned by Imad Ad-Din Mohammed Aqel, 38. The rest house is located behind the Abdeen wedding hall on the Salah Ad-Din Street at the edge of the Al Bureij refugee camp. As a result, the rest house was completely destroyed. Eight adjacent houses, a car, a mosque and a livestock farm were partially damaged. Moreover, a girl, Haneen Nasr Ammar, 17, was injured while she was at her home. Dozens of civilians were terrified and panicked due to this attack.

PCHR weekly report 17/2 - 23/2/2011: 3 Palestinian civilians killed, 5 injured including 2 children, 3 incursions

extracts from PCHR weekly report 17/2 - 23/2/2011: 

3 Palestinian civilians were killed by IOF in the northern Gaza Strip.

A Palestinian resistance activist was killed and 6 others and 3 civilian bystanders, including two children, were wounded by IOF artillery shelling on Gaza City.


IOF continued to target Palestinian workers, farmers and fishermen in border areas in the Gaza Strip. 
- Two Palestinian workers were wounded.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 3 limited incursions into the southern and central Gaza Strip, during which they leveled areas of Palestinian land. 

Thursday, 17 February 2011



At approximately 01:30, Israeli soldiers positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northwest of Beit Lahia town fired a number of artillery shells at 3 Palestinian civilians who were attempting to cross the border to search for jobs in Israe. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli helicopters flew over the area and opened fire. Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers in the area opened fire until 02:30. As a result, the three civilians were killed by shrapnel. The victims are:

1. Jihad Fat'hi Khalaf, 21, from Jabalya town;
2. Tal'at Mohammed al-Rawagh, 41, from Gaza City; and
3. Ashraf 'Abdul Latif Qtaifan, 32, from Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City.

 According to medical crews of Palestinian Red Crescent Society, they were informed by the ICRC that there were 3 dead persons in the northwest of Beit Lahia, so they moved to the area. They found the bodies at approximately 08:15 nearly 200 meters away from the border.


Tuesday, 22 February 2011


At approximately 08:00, IOF moved nearly 400 meters into al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. They leveled areas of Palestinian land. They moved back to the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel at approximately 13:00.

At approximately 08:30, IOF moved nearly 200 meters into Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip. They leveled areas of Palestinian land. They moved back to the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel at approximately 15:00.

Also at approximately 12:15, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers on the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north of the Bedouin Village in the northern Gaza Strip fired at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting scraps of construction materials from a site where the evacuated Israeli settlement of "Nissanit" used to stand. As a result, Saleem Kamal Barakat, 21,from al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded by a bullet to the right leg, when he was nearly 400 meters away from the border.

Wednesday, 23 February 2011

  



At approximately 08:30, IOF moved nearly 200 meters into Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip. They leveled areas of Palestinian land. They moved back to the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel at approximately 15:00.

At approximately 09:45, Israeli soldiers stationed at observation towers on the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north of Beit Lahia town fired at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting scraps of construction materials from a site where the evacuated Israeli settlement of "Elli Sinai" used to stand. As a result, Nidal Mohammed Halawa, 22, from al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded by a bullet to the left leg, when he was nearly 300 meters away from the border.

At approximately 11:40, IOF fired two artillery shells at a number of activists of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) who were near al-Sawda Factory in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. As a result, 7 activists and 3 civilian bystanders, including two children, were wounded. One of the wounded activists, 'Aadel Mohammed Jundiya, 29, from al-Shuja'iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City, died of his wounds in the evening. The three cvilians who were wounded are: 

1. Ahmed Musbah Abu 'Ammar, 15;
2. Fahmi Ibrahim Saleh, 14; and
3. Nihad Daoud al-Ashqar, 30, from Beit Lahia, wounded by shrapnel to the right side and leg. 

Three killed in Gaza buffer zone

Posted on: February 24, 2011

 

22 February 2011 | ISM Gaza

Ashraf Abdellatif Iqtifan was born in Gaza City in 1980. He grew up surrounded by five brothers, two sisters, and everyday violence. When Ashraf was eleven years old, his 14-year-old brother Rami, who on his slightly yellowed photo smiles cheekily and brightly into the camera, threw a stone at an Israeli soldier whilst Gaza was occupied by Israel. A soldier standing next to them saw this, he took his gun and shot Rami between the eyes, the bullet got stuck in the brain. The brain-dead boy was brought to Israel, the family got him back cut open, all organs – even his eyes – were missing. The parents went to court and won. The soldier who had shot Rami, was sentenced for manslaughter of a child to 15 days of prison. Yes, days. He was also demoted two ranks.
But in spite of everything, Ashraf dreamed of a better life in Israel. When he was 19 years old and Gaza was not yet a jail, he managed to escape. He went to Tel Aviv and began to work as a dishwasher. His salary may not have been high, but it was enough to feed his entire family in Gaza; after the blockade none of them have work anymore. For 12 years Ashraf lived and worked in Tel Aviv.
But five months ago, the horror from which he had escaped all those years came back to him. He was stopped by the police, and when looking into his passport, they noted that he was from Gaza. Shortly afterwards Ashraf was back in his hometown. But the joy of reunion lasted only very briefly. Ashraf found his family in poor living conditions, and now absolutely no money came from outside, no one had work anymore. He began to accompany two young men from the extended family, Fathi Jihad Khalaf, 21, and Ar-Tal’at Ruwagh, 25, by collecting stones, so that at least some money came in. They went every day into the area of a former Israeli settlement in northern Gaza, near the border with Israel.
But the missing money and the related concern of no longer being able to care for his family was not the only thing that made Ashraf so desperate. Every day he looked across to the country that had been his home for many years, where his work was, his flat, his friends, his life. “No, Ashraf was not married,” says his father, “that wouldn’t have been possible. I have to approve the marriage, and the whole family must be present at the celebration”. He had begun to plan a marriage for his son, he suggested possible partners. But each time Ashraf refused with some excuse or changed the subject. Maybe after so many years, he deviated a bit from his tradition. Perhaps contrary to father’s firm conviction a girlfriend did wait for him in Israel, who knows, maybe he even had a family there.
And so he developed a plan that was so stupid and naive that you have the urge to shake him and his two friends with whom he was collecting stones, when they hadn’t already paid for this stupidity with their lives.
One can imagine Ashraf raving to his friends about the better life in Israel, about the opportunities they would have there, about the freedom. And these two guys who should have known it better, who were confronted with the violence of the Israeli military in the buffer zone on a daily basis, suddenly believed they knew the area well enough to see an opportunity. These two young men should have known better. They all should have known better.
“Maybe he thought that the soldiers at the border were just as the people with whom he used to work in Tel Aviv, maybe he thought that they wouldn’t immediately shoot him”, his father said quietly.
Whatever Ashraf thought, he wanted to return at any rate. On the night to the 17th of February he and his two new friends set up to their way to the border.
Did they really believe that this would work out? Ashraf perhaps hadn’t realized yet that Gaza had become a high security prison during the long years of his absence. They hadn’t even reached the border when they were fired at – by a nearby gunboat on the water, by a drone from the air and a tank at the border. Half of Arafat’s head was missing when the three bodies could finally be rescued four hours later, around six clock in the morning. No weapons were found, neither on the bodies, nor in the close surroundings.
“I don’t know if he told anyone of his friends in Israel about his plan,” said his father. “He didn’t even tell me that he would try it that night.” The declaration of the Israeli military stated that they “thwarted a terrorist attack”, the men would have been caught, “deploying explosives at the border”. And that’s how the story was probably in the Israeli media. Did Ashraf tell his friends about his plan? Have they read the news? Do they know that he is dead, that Israeli soldiers didn’t prevent a terrorist attack, but killed their friend, who wanted to go back? Ashraf, does that name ring a bell to you, you inhabitants of Tel Aviv? Was he your employee, or the man who washed your dishes in your favorite restaurant, perhaps you’ve seen him on the way out? Was he your friend, partner, perhaps even father? The man who was sitting next to you on the bus, the guy with whom you started a conversation in the long queue at the supermarket? He’s dead. Have you thought of him as you read the news about the last thwarted attack from the terrorists? About three more deaths on the long road to adequate safety?  Ashraf was on his way home.

Updated on February 24, 2011

IOF Escalates Attacks on Gaza; Killing One and Injuring 13, Al Mezan Condemns the Attacks; Calls International Community to Intervene

24-2-2011

Al Mezan

The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) escalated its attacks on the Gaza Strip. On Thursday 24 February 2011, the IOF carried out six airstrikes and two artillery attacks in different areas throughout the Gaza Strip. It also continued to attack Palestinian civilians collecting scrap and rubble from destroyed structures near the separation fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel. The Israeli naval forces also continued to fire at Palestinian fishing boats. As a result of these attacks, one person was killed and 13 persons; including two rubble collectors, were injured. Al Mezan Center for Human Rights calls on the international community to promptly intervene and provide protection for civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).

According to Al Mezan's field investigations, at approximately 9:30am on Wednesday 23 February 2011, the IOF opened fire at a group of Palestinian civilians as they were collecting scrap and rubble from the destroyed structures east of Al Sheja'iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza city. As a result, Ihab Dawoud Al Ashqar, 32, who is from Beit Lahyia, was injured in the abdomen and the left leg. He was admitted to the Balsam Hospital, where his injuries announced as critical. Al Ashqar was later referred to the Shifa Hospital in Gaza city for medical treatment.

At approximately 9:45am on Wednesday 23 February 2011, the IOF opened fire at a group of Palestinian civilians who were about 300 meters from the border fence near the Buret Abu Samra area north of Beit Lahyia town in the North Gaza district. As a result, Nedal Mohammed Halawa, 21, who is from Gaza city, was injured in the left leg. Medical sources at Kamal Odwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya town described his injury as moderate.

At approximately 9am on Wednesday 23 February 2011, four Israeli tanks and an armored bulldozer moved under heavy fire about 300 meters into the Malaka square, east of Az-Zaitoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. Bulldozers leveled agricultural land in the area.

At around midday, another force backed the invaded forces and fired two artillery shells at a group of Palestinian men who gathered near the As-Sawada Factory in the east of Az-Zaitoun neighborhood to follow the developments on the ground. As a result, nine persons were injured. Adel Othman Jendia, 25, was critically injured. At approximately 7pm on the same day, Jendia died from his wounds. Later, he was announced to be a member of the Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jehad Movement.   

At app. 8:20am on Wednesday 23 February 2011, Israeli naval vessels that were patrolling the waters off the coast of the Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of Jabalia town in North Gaza district. No casualties or injuries were reported, but the fishermen were terrified and abandoned their fishing activities

At approximately 10pm on Wednesday 23 February 2011, the IOF fired two artillery shells at a group of Palestinian men who were near the Abdel Aziz Ar-Rantisi mosque east of Az-Zaitoun neighborhood east of Gaza city. As a result, two persons were moderately injured.

At approximately 12:05am on Thursday 24 February 2011, an Israeli aircraft fired a missile at a training site for the Ezadin Al-Qasam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas movement, west of Gaza city. No casualties or injuries were reported in the attack.

At approximately 12:10am on Thursday 24 February 2011, Israeli aircrafts attacked a small agricultural store owned by Wael Al Majayda, 40, near the separation fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel. The store is located north of Khan Younis city and is about 600 square meters. As a result, the store was completely destroyed and the brick fence surrounding the land on which it was built, were destroyed. An adjacent four-story house was also partially damaged in the attack. The house hosts six families of 36 residents and is owned by Khalid Na’eem Wafi, 42. No casualties or injuries were reported in this attack.

At approximately 12:20am on Thursday 24 February 2011, Israeli aircraft fired two missiles at a training site for the Ezadin Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas movement, which is located near the Shuhada Crossing, east of Nizarim evacuated settlement, southeast of Gaza city. No casualties or injuries were reported in the attack.

At approximately 3:05am on Thursday 24 February 2011, Israeli aircrafts fired two missiles at an area that near the Salah Ad-Din Street, east of the An-Nuseirat refugee camp in Middle Gaza district. One of the missiles fell on an asbestos-roofed store which is about 1,500 square meters and is owned by Adham Shurab. The missile left a big hole in the store. The second missile fell on a two-story office building with an area of 150 square meters, which is owned by Hassan Yousif Shurab, 46. As a result, the building was completely destroyed and four adjacent industrial facilities were partially damaged.

At approximately 3:30am on Thursday 24 February 2011, Israeli aircraft fired a missile at a metal workshop to the west of the British Cemetery in the Az-Zawaida village in the Middle Gaza district. The asbestos-roofed workshop is about 1,000 square meters and is owned by Ibrahim Al Hayya, 49. As a result, the workshop was partially damaged.   

At approximately 5am on Thursday 24 February 2011, Israeli aircraft fired a missile at an open field in the Al Shoka village, east of Rafah town in the south of the Gaza Strip. No casualties or injuries were reported.

Al Mezan Center for Human Rights strongly condemns the escalation of IOF attacks on the Gaza Strip which led to casualties and injuries; including of civilian. These attacks caused serious damages to many homes and private facilities and properties.

Al Mezan calls on the international community to intervene and to provide protection for Palestinian civilians in the oPt. Under a shield of immunity and international inaction towards Israel’s violations of the international law, such attacks on the Gaza Strip are only expected to continue and even increase.

Ends

Israeli Aircraft Attack Open Field East of Rafah

24-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 5am on Thursday 24 February 2011, Israeli aircraft fired a missile at an open field in the Al Shoka village, east of Rafah town. No casualties or injuries were reported.

Israeli forces shoot Gaza man in leg

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- A 22-year-old Palestinian man was injured by Israeli fire on Wednesday afternoon, telling medics he was shot while collecting construction aggregates east of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip.

Medical sources in Gaza identified the victim as Nidhal Halwa from the Wadi Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City. They said he was shot in the left leg and was being treated.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said the shooting was a "usual incident," adding that forces stationed on the border zone acted according to military protocol.

Soldiers opened fire to "drive away suspects" in the area, and when the group continued operating soldiers fired at their lower bodies and identified a direct hit on one of the men, the spokeswoman said.

This morning 11 people were injured in a clash east of Gaza City, including three militants and three children, according to witnesses.

In 2010, Gaza medics say 88 people were wounded in the legs by Israeli fire along the border area.

1 dead, 10 injured in Israel shelling near Gaza City

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- A Palestinian injured by an Israeli shell fired east of Gaza City on Wednesday has died, medics said.

Adel Jundiyeh, a member of the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, died and 10 others were injured including three children, medics said.

The shelling came moments after four Israeli bulldozers and four tanks entered into the Gaza Strip, apparently preparing to tear up agricultural lands along the occupied border zone.

The Al-Quds Brigades issued a statement shortly after the incident saying two mortar shells were fired on the bulldozers and tanks as they entered the Gaza border.

Medical official Adham Abu Salmiya said ambulances were dispatched to the area to collect the wounded. He said 11 were taken to hospital, including three members of the Al-Quds Brigades, and three children.

According to Abu Salmiya, two sustained serious injuries, five sustained moderate injuries and four were lightly injured.

An Israeli military statement confirmed that an "explosive device was detonated at an IDF force that was performing a routine activity near the security fence in the Northern Gaza Strip," and said after the explosion went off a mortar shell was fired at the force and five additional mortar shells were fired into Israeli territory.

The troops "identified a number of militants in the same area and returned fire in their direction. A direct hit was confirmed."

Another Palestinian, 22-year-old Nidhal Halwa, was shot in the leg by Israeli forces Wednesday afternoon while collecting construction aggregates in the northern Gaza Strip, east of Beit Hanoun, according to medical sources.

Limited IOF Incursion East of Wadi Gaza Village

23-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 8am on Wednesday 23 February 2011, four Israeli tanks accompanied by three armored bulldozers moved about 200 meters into the eastern parts of the Wadi Gaza (Gaza Valley) village. Bulldozers leveled lands in the area. The Israeli tanks moved to the south parts of the village. No gunfire or artillery shells were fired during the incursion. The IOF invades the area on regularly.

IOF Shoots Palestinian Collecting Scrap North of Beit Layia

23-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 9:45am on Wednesday 23 February 2011, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) opened fire at a group of Palestinian civilians who were about 300 meters from the border fence near the Buret Abu Samra area  north of Beit Lahyia town in the North Gaza district. As a result, Nedal Mohammed Mohammed Halawa, 21, who is from Gaza city, was injured in the left leg. Medical sources at Kamal Odwan Hospital described his injury as moderate.

Limited IOF Incursion East of Wadi As-Salqa Village

22-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 8am on Tuesday 22 February 2011, four Israeli tanks accompanied by two armored bulldozers moved under heavy fire about 200 meters into the eastern parts on Wadi As-Salqa village. The village is located in Middle Gaza district.The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) were still in the area when this news was being published at 10:15am on Tuesday 22 February 2011.    

IOF Shoots Palestinian Collecting Scrap near Erez Crossing

22-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 12:30pm on Tuesday 22 February 2011, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) opened fire at a group of Palestinian civilians as they were collecting scrap and rubble from the destroyed structures near the border fence between Gaza and Israel. The group was about 400 meters from the border fence near the Erez crossing in the North Gaza district when IOF fired at them. As a result, Saleem Kamal Abed Barakat, 21, who is from Gaza city, was injured in the right thigh. Medical sources at Kamal Odwan Hospital described his injury as light.

Limited IOF Incursion East of Khan Younis

22-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 8am on Tuesday 22 February 2011, Israeli tanks accompanied by armored bulldozers moved about 300 meters into to the southeast of Al Qarara town, in the northeast of Khan Younis district. Bulldozers leveled agricultural land that had been razed previously. At app. 1pm on the same day, the force withdrew from that area. No casualties or injuries were reported.

Police in Gaza Bans the Demonstration by the Popular Campaign against the Israeli-imposed ‘Buffer Zone’

22-2-2011

Al Mezan

The police investigations unit banned activists of the 'Popular Campaign against the Buffer Zone' from organizing peaceful demonstration protesting the enforcement of the zone in Gaza. This demonstration has for months been a weekly event, taking place on Tuesdays in places near the separation fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel. It is organized to express solidarity with Palestinian farmers who work near the borders and can't reach their lands to work. It is also organized to protest Israel's violent enforcement of the security 'buffer zone' inside the Gaza Strip.

At approximately 6:30pm on Monday 21 February 2011, Saber Az-Za'aneen, Coordinator of the Local Initiative Committee, which leads the Campaign, received a telephone call from the head of the Police Investigations Unit in the town of Beit Hanoun, informing him that organizing the weekly demonstration was banned. He also told Mr. Az-Za'aneen that the Campaign needed obtain a permit from the office of the Minister of Interior if they wished to organize a demonstration.

In his affidavit to Al Mezan, Az-Za'aneen said that there was an agreement between the Campaign and the police to send a text message (SMS) to the head of the Investigations Unit to inform him about the time of the periodic demonstrations a day or two prior to each demonstration. In the evening of Sunday 20 February 2011, Az-Za'aneen sent the usual SMS. On the next day, the head of the Unit called Az-Za'aneen and told him that the Campaign had to obtain a written permit from the Minister of Interior’s office so that the demonstration be allowed to take place, just like other similar activities in the Gaza Strip.  He also informed Az-Za'neen that the Campaign had to send a copy from the permit to his Unit. Az-Za'aneen tried to explain that the demonstration was organized against the enforcement of the buffer zone by the Israeli forces, and had nothing to do with internal affairs; however, he told Az-Za'aneen that he had to comply with the rules and regulations.

It's worth mentioning that this particular demonstration was organized against the US, who had vetoed a resolution at the UN Security Council condemning Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories as illegal and an obstacle to peace. The demonstration was supposed to be held at 10:30am on Tuesday 22 February 2011 in fields north of Beit Hanoun town. International peace activists who usually participate in demonstrations against the buffer zone sought to obtain permission for this demonstration, but without success. 

IOF Shoots Palestinian Civilian Collecting Scrap East of Gaza City

21-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 10am on Monday 21 February 2011, Israeli occupation forces (IOF) opened fire at a group of Palestinian civilians as they were collecting scrap and rubble from the destroyed structures west of Malaka square, east of Az-Zaitoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza city. As a result, Ahmed Dawoud Naser, 21, who is from Gaza city, sustained moderate injuries.

IOF Open Fire at Areas near the Borders Southeast of Deir Al Balah Town

19-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 10am on Saturday 19 February 2011, Israeli occupation forces (IOF) opened fire at the Kooz Abu Hamam area southeast of Deir Al Balah town in Middle Gaza district. No casualties or injuries were reported.

IOF Kills Three Palestinian Civilians in North Gaza, Al Mezan Calls International Community to Provide Protection for Civilians

17-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 1:30am on Thursday 17 February 2011, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) opened fire and artillery shells under the cover of aircrafts at three Palestinian men who where near the separation fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel in the north of the Gaza Strip. The three were in the As-Siafa area, northwest of Beit Lahyia town, in the North Gaza district. The shooting lasted for about one hour.

At approximately 8:20am on the same day, the dead bodies of the three men were transferred by an ambulance to the Kamal Odwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya town. Al Mezan identified the names of the three men as follows:

·         Jihad Fathi Mohammed Khalaf, 20, from Jabalia;

·         Ashraf Abdel Lateef  Rasheed Iqteefan, 32; from Gaza city; and

·         Tala't Mohammed Salama Ar-Rawagh, 40, from Gaza city.  

The IOF announced that it killed three Palestinians who approached the separation fence to smuggle into Israel through the separation fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel. However, Al Mezan’s investigations found that the three were civilians working in the area with other people.

According to Al Mezan's field investigations, the dead bodies were defaced and torn apart. Their dead bodies were carried on horse-driven carts by workers who were with the victims in the area for about one kilometer, then an ambulance carried them to hospital.

The field investigations by Al Mezan indicated that the three victims were in the area to collect seashells to sell them. They are used to go to this coastal area west of the As-Siafa area, not far from the separation fence. The three victims were dressed in civilian clothes and did not carry any weapons on them. They did not form any threat to the IOF when they were attacked.

Al Mezan Center for Human Rights condemns the killing of three Palestinian civilians by the IOF. This conduct contravenes with international law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (of 1949) and the basic principles of distinction and proportionality. Similar violations by the IOF occur frequently as IOF systematic attacks civilians and their property in areas near the border in the context of enforcing a security buffer zone along the border fence.

Al Mezan calls on the international community to promptly intervene to provide protection to Palestinian civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory; including the Gaza Strip. The international community has an obligation to take steps to bring the deliberate killing, forced displacement and abuse Palestinian civilians to an end. The IOF violent, illegal enforcement of the security buffer zone has caused numerous deaths and injuries to civilians and prevented Palestinian farmers from access to their land; thus deepening the humanitarian and human rights crisis in the Strip.

Ends

IOF Shoots Palestinian Civilian Collecting Scrap and Rubble East of Gaza City

17-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 13:00 pm on Thursday 17 February 2011, Israeli occupation forces (IOF) opened fire at a group of Palestinian civilians as they were collecting scrap materials and rubble from the destroyed structures west of Karni Crossing, east of Al Sheja'iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza city. As a result, Mustafa Khader Al Manasra, 17, and Waleed Khalil Jendea, 19, were injured, both in their right legs. Medical sources described their injuries as moderate.

PCHR weekly report 10/2 - 16/2/2011: 4 workers including 1 child injured, 1 incursion

extracts from PCHR weekly report 10/2 - 16/2/2011:

IOF continued to target Palestinian workers, farmers and fishermen in border areas in the Gaza Strip.

- 4 Palestinian workers, including a child, were wounded. 

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted one limited incursion into the southern Gaza Strip, during which they leveled areas of Palestinian land.

Saturday, 12 February 2011

At approximately 12:15, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers on the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north west of Beit Lahia town fired at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting scraps of construction materials from a site where the evacuated Israeli settlement of "Elli Sinai" used to stand. As a result, Mahran Rezeq Tanboura, 25, from Beit Lahia, was wounded by a bullet to the left knee, when he was nearly 200 meters away from the border.  At approximately 13:00, Israeli soldiers fired the workers again. As a result, 'Aashour Mohammed Shkhaidem, 29, from Beit Lahia, was wounded by a bullet to the left knee, when he was nearly 200 meters away from the border. 

In the evening, Israeli soldiers positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Gaza City fired at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting scraps of construction materials in the east of al-Shuja'iya neighborhood east of Gaza City. As a result, Mohammed Sa'id Eshtaiwi, 16, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded by a bullet to the right leg, when he was nearly 800 meters away from the border.

Monday, 14 February 2011

 


At approximately 09:50, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers on the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north west of Beit Lahia town fired at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting scraps of construction materials from a site where the evacuated Israeli settlement of "Elli Sinai" used to stand. As a result, Suleiman Salem Abu Rkab, 20, from Beit Lahia, was wounded by a bullet to the left leg, when he was nearly 200 meters away from the border.

Limited IOF Incursion East of Khan Younis

15-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 8:30am on Tuesday 15 February 2011, Israeli tanks accompanied by armored bulldozers moved about 300 meters into the Al Fukhari town east of Khan Younis district. Bulldozers leveled lands that had been razed before. At approximately 12:30pm on the same day the force withdrew from the area. No casualties or injuries were reported in this incursion.

IOF Shoots Palestinian Collecting Scrap Northwest of Beit Lahyia

14-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 9:45am on Monday 14 February 2011, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) opened fire at a group of Palestinian civilians who were collecting scrap and rubble from the destroyed structures near the border fence between Gaza and Israel. The group was about 200 meters from the border fence near the evacuated settlement Eli Sinai northwest of Beit Lahyia, in the North Gaza district, when IOF fired at them. As a result,Suliman Salim Mohammed Abu Rekab, 20, who is a resident of Gaza city, was injured in the left leg. Medical sources at Kamal Odwan Hospital described his injury as light.

IOF Shoots Palestinian Collecting Scrap North of Beit Lahyia

12-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 1:10pm on Saturday 12 February 2011, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) opened fire at a group of Palestinian civilians as they were collecting scrap and rubble from the destroyed structures near the border fence between Gaza and Israel. The group was about 200 meters from the border fence near the evacuated settlement Eli Sinai northwest of Beit Lahyia, in the North Gaza district, when IOF fired at them. As a result, Ashour Mohammed Ashour Shkhedem, 29, was injured in the right knee. Medical sources at Kamal Odwan Hospital described his injury as moderate.

IOF Fires at Palestinian Farmers North of Beit Lahiya

12-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 12:40pm on Saturday 12 February 2011, Israeli occupation forces (IOF) opened fire at Palestinian farmers who were in their fields near the separation fence between Gaza Strip and Israel, north of Beit Lahiya. No casualties or injuries were reported, but farmers were terrified and abandoned their farms.

IOF Shoots Palestinian Collecting Scrap Northwest of Beit Lahyia

12-2-2011

Al Mezan


At approximately 12:15pm on Saturday 12 February 2011, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) opened fire at a group of Palestinian civilians as they were collecting scrap and rubble from destroyed structures near the border fence between Gaza and Israel. The group was about 200 meters from the border fence near the evacuated settlement Eli Sinai northwest of Beit Lahyia, in the North Gaza district when IOF fired at them. As a result, Mahran Rezeq Tanboura, 24, was injured in the left knee. Medical sources at Kamal Odwan Hospital described his injury as moderate, as the bullet exited from the knee.

IOF Shoots Palestinian Civilian Collecting Scrap East of Gaza City

12-2-2011

Al Mezan 


At approximately 3:30pm on Saturday 12 February 2011, Israeli occupation forces (IOF) opened fire at a group of Palestinian civilians as they were collecting scrap and rubble from the destroyed structures west of Karni Crossing, east of Al Sheja'iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza city. As a result, Mohammed Sa'eed Hussein Ishtewi, 16, who is from Gaza city, was injured in the right leg.

PCHR weekly report 3/2 - 9/2/2011: 4 workers including 1 child, injured, 1 incursion

extracts from PCHR weekly report 3/2 - 9/2/2011:

IOF continued to target Palestinian workers, farmers and fishermen in border areas in the Gaza Strip.
- 4 Palestinian workers, including a child, were wounded.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted one limited incursion into Gaza Valley village in the central Gaza Strip, during which they leveled areas of Palestinian land.

Saturday, 05 February 2011

 In the morning, Israeli soldiers positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting scraps of constructions materials in the east of al-Shuja'iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City, nearly 500 meters away from the border. Two workers were wounded:

Bilal 'Abdullah al-Da'our, 19, wounded by two bullets to the right hand and foot; and
Ibrahim al-Nabahin, 22, wounded by two bullets to the right side and foot.

At approximately 11:00, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers on the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north of Beir Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip fired at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting scraps of construction materials from a site where the evacuated Israeli settlement of "Elli Sinai" used to stand. As a result, 'Abdullah Rabee' 'Olwan, 46, from Jabalya town, was wounded by a bullet to the right thigh, when he was nearly 150 meters away from the border. 

Monday, 07 February 2011

At approximately 07:55, Israeli soldiers positioned the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun opened fire at Palestinian farmers who were on their lands in the area. The farmers were forced to flee, and no casualties were reported. 

At approximately 14:30, Israeli soldiers positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting scraps of construction materials in the east of al-Shuja'iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. As a result, Nash'at Sa'id Hous, 17, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded by a bullet to the left leg, when he was nearly 500 meters away from the border.

Tuesday, 08 February 2011

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved nearly 200 meters into al-Shouka village, east of the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. They opened fire and leveled areas of Palestinian land. No casualties were reported.

Wednesday, 09 February 2011

At approximately 07:30, IOF moved nearly 250 meters into Gaza Valley village in the central Gaza Strip. They leveled areas of Palestinian land. They moved back to the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel two hours later.

Limited IOF Incursion East of Wadi Gaza Village

9-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 7:30am on Wednesday 9 February 2011, four Israeli tanks accompanied by three armored bulldozers moved around 250 meters into the east of Wadi Gaza (Gaza Valley) village. The incursion lasted two hours later. No casualties or injuries were reported.

IOF Attacks East of Khan Younis

9-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 7am on Wednesday 9 February 2011, Israeli occupation forces (IOF) fired five artillery shells at an open agricultural area east of Abasan town, east of Khan Younis district. No casualties or injuries were reported.

Israeli Aircraft Attacks Open Area East of Gaza City

8-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 11:50pm on Tuesday 8 February 2011, Israeli aircrafts fired a missile at an open area south of the Malaka Square, east of Az-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza city. No casualties or injuries were reported, but people were terrified.

Limited IOF Incursion in Burat Abu Samra North of Beit Laiya

8-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 7am on Tuesday 8 February 2011, six Israeli tanks moved under fire about 400 meters into Burat Abu Samra area north of Beit Lahiya town, west of the Bedouin (Um An-Naser) Village in the North Gaza district.

At approximately 9am on the same day, another five Israeli tanks moved to the same area and stationed there. No casualties or injuries were reported. At approximately 5:45pm on the same day, the IOF withdrew from the area.

Limited IOF Incursion West of As-Syafa Area Northwest of Beit Laiya

8-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 8:10am on Tuesday 8 February 2011, five Israeli tanks moved under fire about 200 meters into the As-Syafa area northwest of Beit Lahiya town in North Gaza district. The tanks moved slowly to the east ward and accompanied the tanks which had invaded the Burat Abu Samra area. No casualties or injuries were reported.

IOF Shoot Palestinian Civilian Collecting Scrap East of Gaza City

7-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 2:30pm on Monday 7 February 2011, Israeli occupation forces (IOF) opened fire at a group of Palestinian civilians as they were collecting scrap material and rubble from the destroyed structures west of Kani Crossing east of Al Sheja'iya neighborhood, east of Gaza city. As a result, Nash'at Sa'eed Hawas, 17, who is from Gaza city, was injured in the left leg beneath the knee.

IOF Open Fire at Palestinian Farmers East of Beit Hanoun

7-2-2011

Al Mezan

At approximately 7:50am on Monday 7 February 2011, Israeli occupation forces (IOF) opened fire at Palestinian farmers who were in their field near the separation fence between Gaza Strip and Israel. The farmers were in the Al Qatbaniya area, east of Beit Hanoun, when IOF opened fire at them. No casualties or injuries were reported, but farmers were terrified and abandoned their farms.

3 workmen in Gaza wounded by Israeli gunfire

[ 05/02/2011 - 02:01 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- Three Palestinian workmen on Saturday morning sustained different injuries east and north of the besieged Gaza Strip when they were shot by Israeli troops as they were collecting gravel from bombed areas. Spokesman for ambulance and emergency authority Adham Abu Salmiya told the Palestinian information center (PIC) that one of the workmen was moderately wounded by Israeli gunfire north of Beit Lahia district and the two others were shot east of Gaza city in Ashujaya neighborhood. Israeli troops deliberately target Palestinian workmen along the borderline with Gaza, and have killed two of them and wounded 118 others since March 2010. ---------- Three Rock Collectors Injured by Israeli Army in Gaza Monday February 07, 2011 15:03 by Ramona M. - IMEMC and Agencies On Sunday, three Gazan rock collectors were shot and injured by Israeli soldiers. On Sunday morning, Abdallah Rabea Odwan, 45 years old from Beit Lahiiya, was working with many others outside Abu Samra, around 700 meters from the border, when they were fired upon by Israeli soldiers. He was hit once below the knee and taken to the Kamal Udwan Hospital. No bones were broken, and doctors say he will recover over the next few weeks. Meanwhile, 19 year old Bilal Abdallah al-Daour and 22 year old Ibrahim el-Nabaheen were fired upon whilst working in the Shuja’iyya neighborhood to the east of Gaza city. Hundreds of people were out collecting rocks in the area, about 500 meters from the Israeli border. At around 8:30am the first shots rang out, but no one was injured. The soldiers stopped shooting and, assuming it was safe, people returned to work. An hour later, the soldiers started shooting again. Bilal was shot in the knee and Ibrahim was shot in the pelvis. The other workers rushed them to a nearby car, but the car was out of gas due to the shortages caused by the closing of the tunnels under the Egyptian border. Bilal was finally taken to Shifa Hospital in Gaza city. When he was found, he did not know where Ibrahim had been taken. These are not the first rock collectors shot by the IDF, as countless others have been shot over the last two years in the ever expanding buffer zone. Originally 50 meters under the Oslo agreements, it was expanded to 150 meters in 2000, and then to 300 meters in January 2010. In reality, the buffer zone is not 300 meters: Adballah was shot 700 meters from the border; others have been shot at up to 2 km from the border – The size of the zone is at the discretion of the Israeli military and they impose the size at differing distances on different days. The Gazan economy has been choked by the three year Israeli siege. Unemployment is widespread, and so poverty – combined with the impossibility of importing cement to rebuild the thousands of homes destroyed and damaged during Operation Cast Lead – forces people to collect rocks. -------------- Three injured as Israeli army fires upon rock collectors Posted on: February 7, 2011  06 February 2011 | International Solidarity Movement Forty-five year old Abdallah Rabea Odwan works as a rock collector around Beit Lahiya. On the morning of 6th February, he and many others were working outside Abu Samra, around 700 meters from the border, when they were fired upon by Israeli soldiers. Abdallah was hit once below the knee and taken to the Kamal Udwan Hospital. Thankfully, no bones were broken, and doctors say he will recover over the next few weeks. Meanwhile, 19 year old Bilal Abdallah Al Daour and 22 year old Ibrahim El Nabaheen were fired upon whilst working in the Shuja’iyya neighborhood to the east of Gaza city. Hundreds of people were out collecting rocks in the area, about 500 meters from the Israeli border. At around 8:30am the first shots rang out, but no one was injured. The soldiers stopped shooting and, assuming it was safe, people returned to work. An hour later, the soldiers started shooting again; Bilal was shot in the knee and Ibrahim was shot in the pelvis. The other workers rushed them to a nearby car, but the car was out of gas due to the shortages caused by the closing of the tunnels under the Egyptian border. Bilal was finally taken to Shifa Hospital in Gaza city; when we found him, he did not know where Ibrahim had been taken. These are not the first rock collectors shot by the IDF, as countless others have been shot over the last two years in the ever expanding buffer zone.  Originally 50 meters under the Oslo agreements, it was expanded to 150 meters in 2000, and then to 300 meters in January 2010. However, the buffer zone isn’t really 300 meters: Adballah was shot 700 meters from the border; others have been shot at up to 2 km from the border – it is as big as the Israeli military wants to make it on any given day.  The Gazan economy has been choked by the three year Israeli siege. Unemployment is widespread, and so poverty – combined with the impossibility of importing cement to rebuild the thousands of homes destroyed and damaged during Operation Cast Lead – forces people to collect rocks. These new injuries are yet another result of Israel’s inhumane policy of shooting anyone it thinks is too close to the border, even if they are forced there, risking their lives to feed their families. Updated on February 7, 2011

PCHR weekly report 27/1 - 2/2/2011: 1 child shepherd killed and animals killed presumably by Israeli UXO, 1 worker injured by gunfire, airstrike

extracts from PCHR weekly report 27/1 - 2/2/2011:

A Palestinian child was killed in the Gaza Strip by the explosion of a mysterious object apparently left by IOF.

IOF continued to target Palestinian workers, farmers and fishermen in border areas in the Gaza Strip.

- A Palestinian worker was wounded. 

Thursday, 27 January 2011 


At approximately 16:00, a heavy explosion occurred in al-Shouka village, east of Rafah, nearly two kilometers away from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. The explosion killed Bassel Mohammed Nafe' Abu 'Edwan, 14, while he and his brother were grazing animals near their house. According to medical sources, the child body was dismembered. According to the child's family, the area where the explosion occurred had been subjected to repeated incursions by IOF, and that the explosion could be resulted by a mysterious object left by IOF. The Palestinian police stated that the explosion was likely the result of a mysterious object left by IOF, although no shrapnel of the object were found in the area.  Two sheep were also killed by the explosion. 


Monday, 31 January 2011 


At approximately 09:50, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers on the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north of Beit Lahia town fired at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting scraps of construction materials from a site where the evacuated Israeli settlement of "Elli Sinai" used to stand. As a result, Mohammed Zakaria Halawa, 21, from Jabalya, was wounded by a bullet to the left leg, when he was nearly 150 meters away from the border. 

Wednesday, 02 February 2011  


At approximately 18:00, Israeli warplanes bombarded a tunnel on the Egyptian border near al-Shouka village, southeast of Rafah. No casualties were reported