16 Palestinians, Including 4 Children, Killed in Gaza, by Israeli Air Strikes, Netanyahu Threatens to Use Deadlier Force

19 Palestinians Injured In New Wave Of Airstrikes Targeting Gaza

Saturday June 23, 2012 04:28 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported that 19 Palestinians were wounded in a series of renewed Israeli air strikes targeting the Gaza Strip. The attacks come after two Palestinians were killed on Friday, and several other residents were wounded.

The sources stated that the army bombarded, at 2 am local Gaza time, the Al-Saraya Security Compound in Ar-Remal neighborhood in Gaza City, causing eight injuries and leading to excessive damage. Several nearby homes were damaged, while several of civilians, mainly children, suffered anxiety attacks.

Several residents were injured, one seriously, when the army bombarded the Tuwam, near Gaza City; the wounded residents were moved to Kamal Odwan Hospital, and the Ash-Shifa Medical Center.

Furthermore, the Israeli Air Force bombarded an area near the Waha Resort, west of Beit Lahia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

The army also fired at least one missile at residents near the Cars Market, east of Ash-Shejaeyya neighborhood, in Gaza City.

Adham Abu Salmiyya, spokesperson of the Medical and Emergency Services in Gaza said that the 10 of the 19 wounded residents, including one woman, were injured when the army bombarded a center for the Al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

He added that eight more civilians were injured in the center of Gaza City after the army fired at least one missiles targeting a security center. One resident was wounded west of Dir Al-Balah, after the army fired two missiles targeting a Qassam center.

The recent wave of attacks comes after the army killed on Friday two Palestinians, and wounded several others, in two separate Israeli air strikes targeting Gaza.

Furthermore, the Hamas-led government in Gaza ordered all government and security centers evacuated fearing additional Israeli bombardment, especially since Israeli warplanes can still be heard and seen flying over different parts of the Gaza Strip.

Israel Continues to Strike Gaza Through the Night
Circarre Parrhesia - IMEMC & Agencies Sat, 23 Jun 2012 02:18:02

The shelling of Gaza has continued into the early hours of Saturday morning, according to Palestinian residents of the coastal enclave.

Young Palestinians have taken to the social networking platform Twitter for the last two hours to report multiple bombardments from Israeli Air Force jets resulting in damage and injuries.

In the area of As-Saraya was struck leading to a large fire, which was attended to by firefighters, and resulted in seven injuries.

Air strikes in the north of Gaza resulted in six more injuries.

This week 9 Palestinians have been killed, the majority of whom have been claimed as fighters by various groups. Furthermore dozens have been injured, mostly civilians.

The Gaza Strip is home to 1.7 million Palestinians, and is 356 square kilometers in size, making it the most densely populated part of the world.

Netanyahu threatens to use deadlier force against Gaza

[ 24/06/2012 - 12:08 PM ]

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)--

Israeli occupation government so-called prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, threatened to use greater deadly force than the latest attacks on Gaza civilians if necessary.

Netanyahu made his remarks on Sunday ignoring the fact that his army was the first that started last Monday to escalate its aerial and artillery deadly attacks, not to mention the ongoing daily Israeli violations on Gaza borderline and against its fishermen.

He stressed that his army responded with armed force against those who tried to harm Israel's citizens and would use deadlier force against them if required.

He added that Israel's policy allows the use of lethal force to defend its people in the southern area (the illegal settlements there).

News reports stated that an unwritten agreement for calm between Israel and the Palestinian resistance in Gaza was reached under the auspices of Egypt.

This was the second truce within a few days Egypt managed to broker between the two sides in an attempt to prevent any further Israeli escalation against Gaza people.

Israel's deadly attacks on Gaza since last Monday have claimed the lives of 16 Palestinians including four children and led to the injury of 70 others, mostly civilians from women and children.

16 Palestinians, Including 4 Children, Killed In One Week

Sunday June 24, 2012 02:13 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported that one resident was killed, and ten others were wounded, when the Israeli army bombarded, on Saturday evening, an area West of Gaza City. The latest attack brings the death toll to 16, including 4 children, in one week; at least 73 Palestinians, including children and women, were wounded in more than 40 strikes carried out by the Israeli military.

Dr. Ashraf Al-Qudra, spokesperson of the Ministry of Health in Gaza, reported that resident Osama Mahmoud Al-Adda, was killed on Saturday evening, and ten residents were injured when the army fired a missile at Al-Adda driving his motorcycle in Al-Quds Open University Street, west of Gaza City.

Al-Adda is a member of the Salah Ed-Deen Brigades, the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees in Gaza.

The missile fired by the army also led to dozens of injuries among the civilian population as it hit a wall of a residential tower.

Adham Abu Salmiyya, spokesperson of the Medical and Emergency Services in Gaza, accused Israel of committing war crimes against the civilian population in Gaza, and demanded the International Community to intervene and stop the Israeli military escalation against the Gaza Strip.

Speaking to the Maan News Agency, Abu Salmiyya identified the Palestinians, killed by Israeli missiles and shells in one week, as;

1. Osama Mahmoud Ali, 42, killed on Saturday June 23 by a missile fired by an Israeli drone west of Gaza City.

2. Khaled Nasser Al-Bor’ey, 25, killed on Saturday June 23 by a missile fired by the army targeting Qleibo Hill, east of Jabalia.

3. Mo’taz Ali Ash-Shawwaf, 6, killed on Saturday June 23, when the army bombarded a playground east of Khan Younis.

4. Mohammad Abdo Az-Za’aneen, 23, killed on June 18 by an Israeli missile in As-Sikka Street, east of Beit Hanoun.

5. Homam Jamal Abu Qadous, 20, killed on Friday June 22 in As-Sudaniyya area, north of Gaza City.

6. Bassem Abdullah Ahmad, 28, killed on Friday June 22, when the army fired artillery shells into an area east of the Al-Boreij refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip.

7. Mohammad Zuheir Al-Khaledy, 30, suffocated by toxic gas after the army bombarded a siege-busting tunnel, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

8. Thaer Mohammad Al-Beik, 26, suffocated by toxic gas after the army bombarded a siege-busting tunnel, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

9. Mo’men Al-Addam, 13 years old, killed on June 21, after the army bombarded Az-Zeitoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City.

10. Ghaleb Awwad Ermeilat, 21, killed on June 20, after the army fired a missile at a motorcycle in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

11. Hadeel Ahmad Al-Haddad, 2 years old, killed on June 19, after the army bombarded her parents’ home in Az-Zeitoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City.

12. Bassam Mohammad Abu Ma’leeq, 16, killed on June 19 by Israeli shells near the Kissufim Crossing, in the central Gaza Strip.

13. Yousef At-Tilbani, 16, killed on June 19 by Israeli shells near the Kissufim Crossing, in the central Gaza Strip.

14. Jihad Abu Shabab, 22, killed on June 18 by an Israeli missile in As-Sikka Street, east of Beit Hanoun.

15. Mohammad Shbat, 23, killed on June 18 by a missile fired by an Israeli drone east of Beit Hanoun, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

16. Mohammad Abu Odah, 24, killed on June 18 by a missile fired by an Israeli drone east of Beit Hanoun.

The Israeli bombardment targeted areas believed to be resistance training camp, in addition to densely populated neighborhoods, sports arenas, blacksmith and other workshops, homes and residential buildings.

2 Killed, 5 Injured in Israeli Air Strike; Multiple Projectiles Fired From the Gaza Strip

Saturday June 23, 2012 00:20 by Circarre Parrhesia - IMEMC & Agencies

Two Palestinians have been killed and five others injured, on Friday, following two separate Israeli air force strikes in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian children mourn for Basil Ahmad during his funeral in Bureij refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, Friday, June 22, 2012 - Team Palestina

Reuters have reported that both men were fighters belonging to a Salafist group, who Israeli daily Haaretz have named as Jaljalat, although the Popular Resistance Committees have claimed one of the men as a member of their group.

Earlier reports from various outlets reported on the first air raid that struck Al-Boreij Refugee Camp, in the central Gaza Strip, leading to one death and one injury.

According to the BBC, the deceased was named as Basel Ahmed by an Israeli military spokesperson, who claimed that Ahmed was preparing a projectile to fire.

The second slain resident was identified as Homam Abu Qadous, 20, from Sheikh Radwan; he died of his wounds at the Ash-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

The strikes followed the firing of two projectiles earlier in the day and in total the State of Israel has stated that four projectiles were fired in total on Friday, causing no injury or damage.

The Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Front for the Liberation of Palestine, later claimed that they fired four projectiles, Ma'an News Agency Reported.

The total of projectiles reported to be fired during Friday has varied.

The second air raid targeted the north of the Gaza Strip, and came as a result of rocket fire in the late evening. The Israeli air force claims that, as in the earlier instance, the air raids targeted fighters in the process of firing projectiles.

The relative calm of the last few months has been broken this week, with various military wings firing projectiles into Israel and multiple Israeli airstrikes.

Nine Palestinians have been killed and scores were injured, along with the injury of four Israeli soldiers.

PCHR Weekly Report: 10 Palestinians killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers this week

Friday June 22, 2012 08:16 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 14– 20 June 2012, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that Palestinian women and children have been killed or wounded by Israeli settlers in Gaza, Hebron, and throughout the West Bank.

Mosque burned and damaged by Israeli settlers (PCHR photo)

Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces escalated attacks against the Gaza Strip. They killed eight Palestinians, including a child, and wounded 17 others, including a woman, three children and a blind old man. Additionally, five Palestinian civilians, including three children, sustained cuts and bruises.

On 14 June 2012, two members of the Palestinian resistance were wounded by Israeli artillery shelling that targeted al-Qarara village, east of Khan Yunis.

On 17 June 2012, a Palestinian civilian was wounded during an Israeli military incursion into Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip.

On the same day, five Palestinian civilians, including a woman and her husband, were wounded by shrapnel when Israeli warplane bombarded a workshop in Rafah.

In the Gaza Strip, on 18 June 2012, four members of the Palestinian resistance were killed and a fifth one was seriously wounded by two Israeli air strikes in the north.

On 19 June 2012, two Palestinian boys were killed and a third one was wounded by Israeli forces at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of al-Msaddar village. The three boys attempted to cross the border to search for jobs in Israel.

On 20 June 2012, a Palestinian child was killed and his blind father and three children were wounded by an Israeli air strike in Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in Gaza City.

On the same day, a member of the Palestinian resistance was killed and another was wounded by an Israeli sir strike in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah.

Also on June 20, Israeli forces launched a series of air strikes against civilian targets in the Gaza Strip. As a result of these attacks, a house and two cars were destroyed and a number of houses were damaged. Additionally, five civilians, including three children, sustained bruises.

During the reporting period, Israeli warplanes attacked a number of training sites of the Palestinian resistance in various areas in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli gunboats opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats in the northern and central Gaza Strip on 9 occasions. No casualties were reported. The Israeli navy also abducted six Palestinian fishermen, and released them the following day after day after questioning them overnight.

Israeli forces positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at Palestinian communities and agricultural land, but no casualties were reported.

Israeli settlement activities:

In the West Bank, on 17 June 2012, two Palestinians were killed by an Israeli settler south of Hebron. The settler, who was driving a truck in the area, claimed that three Palestinians attacked him with an iron bar and in response, he fired at them. The settler claimed that when he was traveling near al-Simya village, he was attacked by the Palestinians, and felt that his life was endangered, so he fired at them, killing two of them and injuring the third one. The settler used lethal force against these Palestinians choosing not to submit them to Israeli forces. There is an Israeli military observation point one kilometer away to the west of the area in which the attack took place.

Israeli forces have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

On 17 June 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Qidoumim” settlement, northeast of Qalqilya, set fire to an area of agricultural land in Kufor Qaddoum village. As a result, seven olive trees and 15 almond trees were completely burnt, before Palestinian fire fighters were able to extinguish the fire.

On 18 June 2012, Israeli forces handed notices ordering the demolition of four houses in Sha’ab al-Sair area near “Karmi Tsur” settlement in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron. According to those notices, the owners of the houses may appeal the demolition orders before Beit Eil military court no later than 03 July 2012.

On 19 June 2012, Israeli settlers set fire to Zaid Ben Hareth Mosque in Jaba’ village, northeast of Jerusalem. According to eyewitnesses, one of the windows in the Mosque and the carpets inside the Mosque were on fire. Locals were able to extinguish the fire, which destroyed the glass of that window and some of the carpets, in addition to damage done to walls and the frame of that window. Hebrew writing was found on one of the external walls of the Mosque, which referred to war and revenge. The Hebrew writing shows a connection between this crime and the evacuation of the Olbana neighborhood in the Beit Eil settlement, north of Ramallah and al-Bireh. It should also be noted that the Adam settlement is located approximately 500 meters to the east of the Zaid Ben Hareth Mosque.

Israeli attacks in the West Bank:

Israeli forces conducted 54 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they abducted 17 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children.

Israeli forces have continued efforts to create a Jewish demographic majority in East Jerusalem. The Israeli municipality of Jerusalem forced a Palestinian civilian to demolish his house and a subordinate farm. On 17 June 2012, Shareef Mousa Laqyaniya, from Beit Eksa village north of occupied Jerusalem, demolished his house and farm after he had received a notice from the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem ordering him to demolish his house and farm claimed that he did not obtain a construction license from the municipality. According to the notice, if he did not demolish the house and the farm by himself, the municipality would do it and he would endure the cost of demolition. According to Laqyaniya, he obtained a construction license from the Palestinian Ministry of Local Government, but the Israeli municipality refused to recognize the license.

Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.

Israeli attacks against non-violent demonstrations:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, 5 Palestinian civilians were wounded and dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

Following the Friday Prayer on 15 June 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. They raised the Palestinian flag and called for ending political division. They then moved towards areas of annexation wall. They called through megaphones on Israeli settlers in “Mitityahu” settlement to leave Palestinian land. Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

Also following the Friday Prayer on 15 June 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators moved towards areas of the annexation wall. Immediately, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

Also following the Friday Prayer on 15 June 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders gathered in the center of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to start the weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The protesters walked towards the gate erected by Israeli forces near the entrance of the village and leading to Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby "Halmish" settlement are trying to seize. Israeli soldiers who had been extensively deployed in the area and near all the entrances of the village since the morning, began to confront the protesters who wanted to walk towards the affected lands. Israeli soldiers fired live and rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters. As a result, Bilal ‘Abdul Salam Tamimi, 46, a photographer of the public resistance movement in Nabi Saleh village, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right thigh. Some demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation.

At approximately 13:15 also on Friday, 15 June 2012, Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qqlilya, in protest to the continued closure of the eastern entrance of the village by Israeli forces. They moved towards the entrance. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. As a result, 3 demonstrators were hit by tear gas canisters. Some demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation. Additionally, 600 chickens belonging to Zahi ‘Ali were killed by tear gas.

Recommendations to the international community:

Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made several recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation that the international community recognize the Gaza disengagement plan, which was implemented in September 2005, for what it is - not an end to occupation but a compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

In recognition of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including the facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

For the full text of the report, click on the link below:

http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_...d=183

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.