Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

1,803 Palestinians Killed, More than 9370 Injured, Including Massacres of Refugees in a Rafah UN School By Israeli Air-Land Attacks Today, as of August 4, 2014

Ten Killed, Dozens Injured, In First Hours Of Monday

Monday August 04, 2014 06:55 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

Palestinian medical sources have reported that at least ten Palestinians have been killed, on Monday at dawn, after the Israeli terrorist forces fired missiles into homes, and civilian areas, in different parts of the Gaza Strip. Dozens have been injured.

Update: 06:54:

A Palestinian child, identified as Raghd Mas’oud, 7, from Rafah, was killed and four family members suffered moderate-to-severe injuries, after an Israeli terrorist missile struck their home in the al-Barazil neighborhood in Rafah. They have been moved to the Kuwaiti Hospital in Rafah.

Earlier on Monday morning, the army bombarded a home belonging to resident ‘Ayed al-‘Abadla, in the al-Qarara area, east of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, causing at least one injury.

The Ministry said the latest Israeli strike led to the death of two Palestinians in Sheikh Radwan District, in Gaza, while many Palestinians have been injured.

They slain Palestinians have been identified as:

1. Dia’ ed-Deen Mohammad al-Madhoun, 23, Gaza.
2. Ahmad Banat, 22, Gaza.

A medical source in Beit Lahia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, has reported that five Palestinians have been killed, and scores injured, when the army bombarded several homes in the city.

They have been identified as:

3. Hamada Khalil al-Qaaq, Beit Lahia.
4. Ahmad Khaled al-Qaaq, Beit Lahia.
5. Suleiman Mohammad Ma’rouf, Beit Lahia.
6. Zaher al-Anqah, Beit Lahia.
7. Abdul-Nasser al-Ajjoury, Beit Lahia.

Sources at the Shifa Medical Center in Gaza also reported that two Palestinians died of serious injuries suffered after the army fired missiles into homes, in earlier Israeli bombardment, in Sheikh Radwan.

Several Palestinians were injured, some seriously. The slain Palestinians have been identified as:

8. Abdul-Hai Salama al-Qreinawi, 45, Gaza.
9. Mohammad Sabri Atallah, 21, Gaza.

Meanwhile in Tel Aviv, the Israeli security cabinet has decided Israel is not interested in a cease-fire agreement, through mediated negotiations with Hamas and other groups in Gaza, but is instead considering “unilaterally withdrawing from the Strip and relying on what it called “restored deterrence”, Israeli daily, Haaretz, said.

Haaretz quoted Netanyahu saying: “all options are on the table” for what he called "restoring security after all tunnels are destroyed”.

By the end of the day Sunday, the Ministry of Health said the number of Palestinians killed in the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza since July 8 is now more than 1803, including 401 children, 238 women, and 74 elderly.

The number of wounded Palestinians, including hundreds in serious conditions, has exceeded 9370, including 2805 children, 1823 women, and 434 elderly.

The Ministry said the Israeli army has targeted 36 Palestinian ambulances, some of them have been completely destroyed, while 19 medics have been killed and more than 102 have been injured.

Israeli Attack on  a UN school in Rafah, Hospital Unable to Cope with Mounting Numbers of Dead and Injured

Monday August 04, 2014 03:20 by Chris Carlson - 1 of International Middle East Media Center Editorial Group

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza is reeling from the reports coming out of Rafah, according to Al-Ray Palestinian Media Agency, who informs that scores of people have been killed and injured, today, including 10 dead and over 30 injured in yet another attack on an UNRWA school -- this time the Anas Ibn Malik Prepatory School sheltering thousands of forcibly displaced persons.

A group of women, children and elderly were sitting against the wall which stands at the entrance to the school, seeking shade from the sun when they were attacked by the Israeli military.

Missile and mortar attacks are continuous in Rafah, Al Ray reports. This puts enormous pressure on the 20-bed Kuwaiti Maternity Hospital, which is now overflowing with the dead and injured.

At the time of this report, there were 30 bodies lying on the floor of the dental clinic, with children’s bodies stored in ice-cream, flower, and vegetable freezers, as morgue facilities are not an option. Other bodies have apparently been taken to the western cemetery for burial. The eastern cemetery is inaccessible due to Israeli fire.

Faitma Abu Musa, who is a lab technician at Kuwaiti Maternity Hospital states:

“We desperately need blood, we do not have enough for transfusions... we only have two operating theatres, one for minor surgery. They have to operate on two people at the same time on one operating table, major surgeries, with intestines on the outside, eyes on the outside. It is impossible to deal with all the wounded.” 

Explosion of Infectious Disease in Gaza Threatens Public Health

Monday August 04, 2014 02:49 by IMEMC News - Gaza Ministry of Health

Official Press Release - Ministry of Health

The people of Gaza face enormous barriers to accessing primary health care, with only 10 of the government’s 56 Primary Health Care clinics operational, eight of UNRWA’s 22 clinics open, and most NGO clinics closed.

The majority of displaced persons have no access whatsoever to primary health care services. This is at a time when there are urgent public health problems arising from the Israeli offensive threatening the health of the entire population.

The destruction of the sole Gaza power plant leaves sewage pumps incapacitated. The lack of electricity combined with the destruction of at least 16 water wells has left 1.8 million people without access to water, according to the latest OCHA report.

It also reports that some 10,000 homes have been completely annihilated, and 450,000 people forcibly displaced, with 250,000 of them seeking shelter in UN facilities only able to cope with a fifth of that number, and another 30,000 in government schools and institutions.

The over-crowding and lack of adequate water and sanitation facilities has seen the incidence of viral meningitis skyrocket from five per day, to 53 cases today.

Diarrhoea and scabies are rampant in the overcrowded shelters, with clean drinking water all but impossible to obtain.

Hospitals are also coming under enormous pressure, with large numbers of displaced treating them as safe havens. This has created problems of electricity overload, garbage, high water consumption, and sanitation crises.

Decomposing bodies whose retrieval has been prevented by Israeli shelling and aerial attacks continue to pose a significant risk to public health. Although dozens have been retrieved during brief ceasefires, an unknown number, possibly in the hundreds, still remain in Shujeiyah, Beit Hanoun, Khuza’a, and Rafah and will significantly impact on the health of the population as displaced persons return to their neighbourhoods.

The Ministry of Health Gaza calls on national and international organisations to immediately address the looming public health crisis by:

1) restoring the electricity supply as a matter of urgency;
2) providing adequate water & sanitation facilities in shelters for displaced persons;
3) providing Hygiene Kits to displaced persons;
4) restoring the sewage pumping capacity as a matter of urgency;
5) providing access to potable water to all residents of Gaza;
6) restoring water wells as a matter of urgency;
7) providing longer-term shelters for the tens of thousands of displaced persons whose homes have been completely destroyed, until rebuilding is possible, and
8) restoring Gaza’s four evacuated hospitals, especially the Wafa Rehabilitation Hospital and Al Durrah Paediatric Hospital, to operational capacity as soon as possible.

Contacts:

Dr Yousef AbuAlrish, Deputy Minister of Health: +972 597 918 339
Dr Medhat Abbas, Director General, Ministry of Health: +972 599 403 547  

At least nine Palestinians killed in Gaza due to new Israeli air-land attacks

Monday August 04, 2014 11:30 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

Israeli occupation terrorist soldiers continued their bombardment of different parts of the Gaza Strip, killing at least eight Palestinians, including children, in Rafah, and a leader of the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

The Ministry Of Health in Gaza said the remains of five Palestinians, including two children and two teenagers, were moved to the Emirates Hospital, in Rafah, after the army bombarded their homes in the eastern part of the city, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

They have been identified as:

1. Saher Talal Abu Mohsen, 23, Rafah.
2. Aseel Saleh Hussein Abu Mohsen, 18, Rafah.
3. Ebtisam Hammad al-Mahmoum, 18, Rafah.
4. Hiba Mustafa al-Mahmoum, 7, Rafah.
5. Obada Mustafa al-Mahmoud, 3, Rafah.

Al-Quds Brigades stated that Daniel Abdullah Abu Mansour, 44, was killed along with Abdul-Nasser al-Ajjouri, in Jabalia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health said two Palestinians were killed in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, after the army bombarded several areas in the district.

They have been identified as Ashraf Mashal, 25, and Fadi Madhi, 23.

A Palestinian child was killed in the ash-Shati’ refugee camp, after the army fired a missile into a home belonging to the al-Bakri family, wounding at least 30 Palestinians, mainly women and children.

She has been identified as Aseel Mohammad Al-Bakri, 8.

It is worth mentioning that Palestinian Legislator and former Minister of Detainees, Issa Qaraqe’, stated that Israeli soldiers kidnapped more than 300 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and are currently holding them in a makeshift military prison, across the border with Gaza.

He added that the soldiers executed several detained Palestinians after arresting them, adding that those detained Palestinians are not fighters, and that the soldiers shot and killed several Palestinians who were raising their hands into the air, in areas invaded by Israeli tanks and military vehicles in the coastal region.

Qaraqe’ further stated that Israeli security officers have tortured dozens of Palestinians during interrogation, and some of them required hospitalization due to extreme torture, and excessive use of force.

Euro-Mid observer: Israel tests new lethal weapons in its war on Gaza

 [ 04/08/2014 - 09:23 AM ]

GENEVA, (PIC)--

The Geneva-based Euro-Mid observer for human rights has accused Israel of using experimental weapons during its ongoing deadly attacks on the densely-populated Gaza Strip, citing as evidence the nature of reported injuries suffered by civilians.

"Doctors treating Palestinian victims in Gaza have reported unconventional physical lacerations and amputations without traces of shrapnel," Rami Abdo, director of the Euro-Mid observer, told Anadolu Agency on Sunday.

"Based on doctors' reports, it is believed that Israel has used experimental 'dense inert metal explosives' (DIME)," he said.

Abdo said such experimental types of explosive projectiles have not yet been classified as banned by the international law, but Israel's use of DIME explosives in the populated areas of Gaza constitutes a violation of the Geneva conventions.

Israel has been pounding the besieged Gaza Strip, a home to 1.8 million people, since July 7.

At least 1830 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been massacred and more than 10,000 others injured in Israeli indiscriminate attacks.

The nature of injuries and deep lacerations that have been found recently by doctors in the bodies of killed and seriously-wounded victims vindicated that Israel uses flechette shells, banned DIME weapons, and US-made M107 shells in the Gaza Strip.

Flechette shells, typically fired from a tank, explode above their targets and release thousands of miniature metal darts that piercingly cover a wide range.

DIME weapons are densely packed with tungsten powder, which is a carcinogen that dissolves in human tissues, making it very difficult for physicians and investigators to determine the cause of the injuries.

The US-made M107 shells explode into nearly two thousands of metal fragments that hit the target and its surrounding areas.

Hamas: Israeli shelling of UNRWA school “war crime”

[ 04/08/2014 - 07:50 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- 

Hamas slammed Israel’s attack on a Rafah-based UNRWA school Sunday morning as a “war crime” and a proof of Israel’s disregard for the public opinion.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is a co-partner in such Israeli genocide, denouncing his silence over Gaza’s bloodbaths as opposed to his lamentation regarding the disappearance of the Israeli soldier who took part in mass-murdering hundreds of innocent children in the ongoing military offensive on Gaza.

A barrage of Israeli mortars rocked the UNRWA school in Rafah, a shelter for hundreds of Palestinian refugee children and families.

The attack took away the lives of at least ten civilians and left some 50 others severely injured, Health Ministry spokesman, Ashraf al-Qudra reported as he denounced such escalation of Israeli genocides against families seeking refuge in UN premises, and called on the UN to immediately step in so as to save the lives of some 250,000 displaced Palestinians in the Strip.

A new spate of Israeli mortar shells targeting a Palestinian crowd left seven civilians dead.

The Rafah death toll has been brought to 38 after three Palestinians were killed in an Israeli raid on Okel’s family home, north of the city.

Three members of al-Sharfi family, two members of Jabara’s, four members of al-Khatat and two members of al-Atar families were all-mass-murdered in a series of brutal raids that struck their homes in Jabaliya, Rafah, and Deir al-Balah.

PIC correspondent said the Israeli occupation army has been unleashing fire on rescue and civil defense crews who rushed to the targeted spots to evacuate the casualties.

By-standers at the scene said rescue crews recovered dozens of dead bodies from beneath the Gaza ruins while scores of other casualties have been covered under their home debris.

Five members of Abu Shalouf family west of Rafah were killed in another wave of Israeli shells.

Nine civilians, including children, were killed in a barrage of Israeli mortars that rocked al-Ghoul’s home in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip. 20 more civilians sustained severe injuries in the process.

Israeli rocket fire targeting Abu Jazar’s home and al-Shaer’s in Rafah claimed the lives of five civilians, including two children, and wounded dozens of others.

Two more civilians were killed in a renewed Israeli aerial raid that hit civilian homes in Beit Lahia and the Jabaliya refugee camp.

IOF bombing of house kills woman while breastfeeding her newborn baby

[ 03/08/2014 - 03:55 PM ]

KHAN YOUNIS, (PIC)--

Siham Shaath was nursing her 26 days old baby when the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) bombed her house, on Thursday evening.

The IOF warplanes fired a missile at a house owned by Jihad Shaath, in the area of Qizan Najjar south of Khan Younis, destroying the house and killing Jihad's wife Siham while she was nursing her infant.

Hamid al-Najjar one of the neighbors, told the PIC's correspondent: "After sunset prayers, I heard a big explosion and then I found out that the bombing targeted the house of my neighbor Jihad Shaath. We started searching in the rubble when we learned that his wife and baby were inside. The civil defense arrived and pulled out the mother Siham and the baby from the rubble."

Under the rubble, the baby Muatassim was found alive, still breast-feeding but the mother was already dead.

Siham's husband said: "I was in the mosque when I heard the explosion. Then I found out that my house was targeted without any prior warning."

The infant was transferred to Nasser hospital for treatment of wounds that covered his little body.

Israeli military aggression against Palestinians in the blockaded Gaza Strip has continued unabated since July 8. Israel has been targeting civilian houses and killed in cold blood hundreds of women and children whom the entire world failed to protect.

 

Names of Palestinians Killed in the War on Gaza since 8 July

Monday August 04, 2014 13:25 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

This list is constantly updated due to the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza since July 8th. The following 1439 names have been confirmed - the actual death toll stands at approximately 1803.

We realize the number of slain Palestinians is higher than this. The Ministry of Health has stated that a total of at least 1803 Palestinians have been killed. We are still awaiting confirmation of some names. At least 9370 Palestinians have been injured.

Killed Monday, August 3

1. Dia’ ed-Deen Mohammad al-Madhoun, 23, Gaza.
2. Ahmad Banat, 22, Gaza.
3. Hamada Khalil al-Qaaq, Beit Lahia.
4. Ahmad Khaled al-Qaaq, Beit Lahia.
5. Suleiman Mohammad Ma’rouf, Beit Lahia.
6. Zaher al-Andah, Beit Lahia.
7. Abdul-Nasser al-Ajjoury, Beit Lahia.
8. Abdul-Hai Salama al-Qreinawi, 45, Gaza.
9. Mohammad Sabri Atallah, 21, Gaza.
10. Raghd Mas’oud, 7, Rafah.
11. Daniel Abdullah Abu Mansour, 44, Jabalia (Northern Gaza)
12. Abdul-Nasser Ajjouri, Jabalia. (Northern Gaza)
13. Ashraf Mashal, 25, Rafah.
14. Fadi Madhi, 23, Rafah.
15. Aseel Mohammad al-Bakri, 8, (Shati’ Refugee camp) Northern Gaza.
16. Saher Talal Abu Mohsen, 23, Rafah.
17. Aseel Saleh Hussein Abu Mohsen, 18, Rafah.
18. Ebtisam Hammad al-Mahmoum, 18, Rafah.
19. Hiba Mustafa al-Mahmoum, 7, Rafah.
20. Obada Mustafa al-Mahmoud, 3, Rafah.

Killed Sunday, August 3

1. Fares Abu Jazar, 2, Rafah.
2. Maria Abu Jazar, 2, (Twins) Rafah.
3. Amani Abu Jazar, 23, Rafah.
4. Issa Sha’er, Rafah.
5. Saed Mahmoud al-Lahwani, Rafah.
6. Hatem Abdul-Rahman Wahdan, 50, Jabalia.
7. Seniora Wahdan, 27, Jabalia.
8. Jamila Jamal Wahdan, Jabalia.
9. Mohammad al-Hour, 30, Rafah.
10. Nasrallah al-Masry, Rafah.
11. Mohammad Ismael al-Ghoul, Rafah.
12. Wael Ismael al-Ghoul, Rafah.
13. Ismael Mohammad al-Ghoul, Rafah.
14. Ismael Wael al-Ghoul, Rafah.
15. Khadra Khaled al-Ghoul, Rafah.
16. Asma’ Ismael al-Ghoul, Rafah.
17. Malak Wael al-Ghoul, Rafah.
18. Mustafa Wael al-Ghoul, Rafah.
19. Hanadi Ismael al-Ghoul, Rafah.
20. ‘Atwa Suleiman Khattab, 64, Rafah.
21. Remas ‘Atwa al-'Attar (Khattab), Rafah.
22. Mohammad ‘Atwa Khattab, Rafah.
23. Suleiman ‘Atwa Khattab, Rafah
24. Nevin Suleiman Khattab, Rafah
25. Amira Ahmad Khattab
26. Rajab Abdul-Rahman Sharafi, 10, Jabalia
27. Mahmoud Abdullah Sharafi, 26, Jabalia
28. Najah Rajab Sharafi, 48, Jabalia
29. Turkiyya Mahmoud ‘Okal, 60, Rafah
30. Elham Mohammad Mahmoud ‘Okal, 34, Rafah
31. Mahmoud As’ad Mohammad ‘Okal, 18, Rafah
32. Mahmoud Mohammad Na’im ‘Okal, 10, Rafah
33. 'Ahed Badran, Northern Gaza.
34. Mohammad Abu Rajal, UN School, Rafah.
35. Sami Abdullah Qishta', UN School, Rafah.
36. Sami Ismael Abu Shaouf, UN School, Rafah.
37. Ahmad Khaled Abu Harba', UN School, Rafah.
38. Mohammad Mosa'ed Qishta', UN School, Rafah.
39. Hazem Abdel-Baset Hilal, UN School, Rafah.
40. Amr Tariq Abu al-Rous, UN School, Rafah.
41. Ahmad Kamal al-Nahhal, UN School, Rafah.
42. Yousef Akram Skafi, UN School, Rafah.
43. Tareq Sa'id Abu al-Rous, UN School, Rafah.
44. Abdul-Karim Najm, northern Gaza.
45. Bilal Abdul-Karim Najm (son of Abdel-Karim) , northern Gaza.
46. Ahmad Abdعl-Karim Najm (son of Abdel-Karim) , northern Gaza.
47. Raghd Najm, northern Gaza.
48. Soha Najm, northern Gaza.
49. Shimaa' Wael Qassim, northern Gaza.
50. Rowan Ahmed Majdalawi, 7 years old, northern Gaza.
51. Mohammad Ahmad Majdalawi, 6 years old, northern Gaza.
52. Ras Hadi Majdalawi , northern Gaza.
53. Mahmoud Abdel-Hadi Majdalawi , northern Gaza.
54. Abdullah Majdalawi, northern Gaza.
55. Khalil Mohammad Ramadan Abu Daba'a, 42, Rafah.
56. Munir Abu Daba'a, Rafah.
57. Qassim Mahmoud Qassim, 40, northern Gaza.
58. Mohammad Sa'dy Ahmad, 37, northern Gaza.
59. Ahmad Qassem, Beit Lahia.
60. Qassem Qassem, Beit Lahia.
61. Basil Walid at-Tala'a, 23, Nusseirat.
62. Abdullah Soheil Abu Shawish, 24, Nusseirat.