IOF Launches Seven Attacks throughout Gaza Strip

IOF Launches Seven Attacks throughout Gaza Strip

03/06/2012
In the early morning hours of Sunday 3 June 2012, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) escalated their aggression on the Gaza Strip, launching six aerial attacks and an artillery strike on Khan Younis.

Over the last two days the IOF has launched a series of aerial attacks throughout the Gaza Strip, as a result of which two persons were killed and 12 injured, including seven children and a woman. Nine houses were partially damaged, and one house was destroyed; a poultry and cattle farm, a water well, a carpentry shop, and a storeroom were also damaged.

In the morning hours of Friday 1 June 2012, the IOF announced that it had killed Ahmed Ahmed Abu Naser, 19, as he tried to sneak across the separation fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel. The IOF transferred the body to Gaza via Erez crossing, and then launched a series of attacks on civilian objects and in disregard of civilians’ lives.

Al Mezan’s field workers monitored and documented these attacks, which took place chronologically as follows, starting with the most recent incident:

At approximately 2:00 am on Sunday 3 June 2012, Israeli aircraft fired about four missiles at the house of Ibrahim Khalil Mohammed Al Feqi, 23, which is located in camp no. 2 in south An-Nuseirat. As a result, the 70-square meter house was severely damaged. Al Feqi, who was supposed to get married in two weeks, sustained shrapnel wounds in the right leg. Four adjacent houses were damaged, and four residents of a house belonging to a widow, Samiya Jadallah Jebril, 45, were injured. Al Mezan has identified them as:

•Feras Mohammed Jebril, 8, who sustained shrapnel wounds to the head;
•His brother Wesam, 6, injured in the right hand;
•His brother Mohammed, 5, injured in the right heel; and
•His brother Hussein, 17, injured in the left shoulder.

A house belonging to Mohammed Khalil Al Feqi, 27, was also damaged in the attack, and his daughter Deema, 4 months old, sustained shrapnel wounds to the head. Another house belonging to Saleh Mohammed Al Feqi was damaged as well, and his son Tareq, 20, sustained shrapnel wounds to the head. A doctor from the neighborhood gave field treatment to a woman and to two children, Leen Mohammed Al Feqi, 2, who sustained bruises, and Ahmed Rami Al Feqi, 3, who was injured in the left leg.

At approximately 1:35 am on Sunday 3 June 2012, an Israeli aircraft fired a missile at a room on a plot of agricultural land, destroying both the room and an under-construction house belonging to Mesbah Khader Sedam, 43. 20 olive trees and citrus were damaged. People especially women and children were terrified.

At approximately 1:30 am on Sunday 3 June 2012, an Israeli aircraft attacked an agricultural room in Wadi As-Salqa village, southeast of Deir Al Balah. The room was destroyed; no casualties or injuries were reported.

At approximately 1:20 am on Sunday 3 June 2012, an Israeli aircraft attacked a carpentry shop and a 200-square meter tin-roofed store in the Al Masha’la area southeast of Deir Al Balah. As a result, the carpentry shop and the roof of the store were destroyed. Adjacent houses were damaged in the attack.

At approximately 1:10 am on Sunday 3 June 2012, Israeli aircraft fired two missiles at a poultry and cattle farm and a water well located about 1,500 meters southwest of the Bedouin village which lies northwest of Beit Lahiya in North Gaza district. As a result, the farm; the well—which supplies water to 50 dunams of agricultural land—and the building housing it; a room made of sheet metal, about 470 square meters in area; a storage room of ten square meters; and an electric generator, were completely destroyed; and 29 sheep and 4,300 chicks were killed. No casualties or injuries were reported. According to Al Mezan’s field investigations, the farm belongs to Faraj Hussein Abu Rabee’, 42, and is located in an agricultural area. The attack was massive and sudden, and terrified women and children in the area.

At approximately 11:20 am on Friday 1 June 2012, an Israeli aircraft opened fire at a motorcycle in the Qdeeh family neighborhood, east of Abasan in eastern Khan Younis district. As a result, Fawzi Fares Qdeeh, 30, was killed. Another three persons were injured in the attack; two of them were referred to the Gaza European Hospital.

At approximately 7:30 am on Friday 1 June 2012, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) opened fire with machine guns and a number of artillery shells on agricultural lands east of Abasan village, to the east of Khan Younis. The fields, which were planted with wheat and barley, were damaged by fire as a result. Civil Defense fire engines subsequently arrived and put out the fire.

The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights condemns the continuous Israeli attacks on Gaza, which have resulted in the killing and injury of civilians and destruction of residential houses and properties. Al Mezan reiterates its previous call on the international community to promptly intervene to end Israel’s violations of international law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention and international human rights law.

Al Mezan emphasizes the importance of ending the grant of immunity which has characterized the international community’s attitude towards gross Israeli violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the occupied Palestinian territory.

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