24-2-2011
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
