Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (24 – 31 December 2008)

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (24 – 31 December 2008)

1. IOF Offensive on the Gaza Strip

At approximately 11:25 on Saturday, 27 December 2008, dozens of IOF warplanes launched a wave of air strikes almost the same time throughout the Gaza Strip. This timing indicates that an Israeli decision was taken to cause maximum casualties in the climax of daily activities. It also explains the high number of victims killed or wounded in a few minutes on the bloodiest day during the 41 years of Israeli occupation. The timing of air strikes coincided with the end of the morning period and the beginning of the afternoon period at schools, many of which are located near police stations that were bombarded. IOF have bombarded civilian facilities, mosques and houses, without paying attention to the lives and safety of Palestinian civilians. Israel claims that such civilian facilities, mosques and houses were related to Hamas, but investigations conducted by PCHR indicate that IOF have used excessive lethal force and that the majority of the facilities that have been targeted are public and private property located in densely populated areas, making Palestinian civilians pay a heavy price from their lives and property. All of the victims of recent attacks are civilians, and dozens of houses have been heavily damaged. Due to the current siege imposed on the Gaza Strip, the reconstruction or reparation of the houses that have been destroyed or damaged is extremely difficult.

Northern Gaza Strip

As a result of the IOF offensive on the northern Gaza Strip, 46 Palestinians, including 27 civilians, have been killed. The victims include 11 children and 3 women. The victims include also 5 sisters and another 2 sisters and their brother. Additionally, 322 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been wounded. IOF have bombarded 5 security sites, 2 mosques, 8 houses, a workshop, a telephone control room, a number of civilian vehicles and some space areas. A number of houses and civilian facilities located near the places that have been attacked have been damaged.

Saturday, 27 December 2008

• At approximately 11:35, IOF warplanes bombarded a number of sites of Palestinian security services and training sites. As a result, 21 Palestinians, including 2 women and 3 staff members of the Palestinian Telecommunication Company, were killed.

The sites that were bombarded are:

 ’Abdul ’Aziz al-Rantissi site in the west of Jabalya, in which 9 security men were killed and dozens of others were wounded.
 The naval police station in the west of Beit Lahia, in which 3 security men were killed and dozens of others were wounded.
 The building of Palestinian National Security Forces in the east of Jablaya, in addition to a site of the ’Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades and a room of the Palestinian Telecommunication Company, where a passing woman, 3 staff members of the company and 3 members of the ’Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades were killed.
 A site of Palestinian National Security Forces in the west of Beit Hanoun.
 A space area in al-Amal neighborhood in Beit Hanoun, where two civilians, including a woman, were killed.

Sunday, 28 December 2008

• At approximately 11:40, IOF warplanes bombarded al-Salatin area, west of Beit Lahia. As a result, a man, his wife and their son were wounded.
• At approximately 14:30, an IOF drone bombarded a civilian car that was traveling near Jabalya town. The car was destroyed and its driver, who is an activist of the ’Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas, was killed. A number of civilian bystanders were also wounded.
• At approximately 23:50, IOF warplanes bombarded ’Emad ’Aqel Mosque in Block 4 in the densely populated Jabalya refugee camp. The mosque and a neighboring house belonging to Anwar Khalil Ba’lousha were destroyed. The house was destroyed over the family, killing 5 of Ba’lousha’s female children: Jawaher, 4; Dunia, 8; Samar, 12; Ikram, 14; and Tahreer, 17. Ba’lousha, his wife and another three of their children were also wounded. Additionally, 17 civilians in neighboring houses, including 5 children, were wounded.

Monday, 29 December 2008

• At approximately 01:00, IOF warplanes bombarded space areas near Beit Lahia cemetery, Tal al-Za’tar area, Jabalya town, Beit Hanoun town and Be’r al-Na’ja area area. No casualties were reported.
• At approximately 09:00, IOF warplanes bombarded space areas in the east of Jabalya town, but no casualties were reported.
• At approximately 09:05, IOF warplanes bombarded al-Zawia Mosque in ’Izbat ’Abed Rabbu area in the east of Jabalya town. The mosque was destroyed and its Imam was moderately wounded.
• At approximately 12:30, IOF warplanes attacked a number of Palestinian civilians in a farm in the east of Jabalya town. One civilian was killed and 3 others were wounded.
• At approximately 12:35, IOF warplanes bombarded an agricultural area in al-Ghoboun area in Beit Lahia town. As a result, Shadi Yousef Ghaben, 12, was killed, and another 2 children were wounded.
• At approximately 14:30, IOF warplanes bombarded a smith workshop belonging to ’Emad Sammour in Zimmu Street in the east of Jabalya town. The workshop was heavily damaged. Sammour and a number of civilians went to evacuate the contents of the workshop in a van. At approximately 15:30, IOF bombarded the van and the civilians in the area. As a result, 8 civilians, including 3 children, were killed and 4 others were seriously wounded.
• At approximately 16:50, IOF bombarded a 5-storey house belonging to Maher Zaqqout, a leader of the ’Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas in Beit Lahia housing project. The house was destroyed and dozens of neighboring houses were damaged. Additionally, 22 civilians were wounded.
• At approximately 17:40, IOF warplanes bombarded a 2-storey house belonging to Ayman Hussein Siam, a leader of the ’Izzidin al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas, in al-Hawaja Street in the center of Jabalya refugee camp. The house was destroyed. A Palestinian child, 16-year-old Tariq Yasser ’Afana, was killed and 12 others were wounded.
• At approximately 17:55, IOF warplanes bombarded a small house belonging to Salman Salman in Tal al-Za’tar area. The house was destroyed, but no casualties were reported.
• At approximately 18:40, IOF warplanes bombarded a 3-storey house belonging to ’Abdul Karim al-Ja’ber in Beit Lahia housing project. The house was heavily damaged, but no casualties were reported as the house had been already evacuated.

Tuesday, 30 December 2008

• At approximately 04:10, IOF warplanes bombarded a house belonging to ’Adnan ’Abed Rayan in al-Junaina quarter in Jabalya town. The house was destroyed and a number of neighboring houses were damaged. The house had been already evacuated.
• At approximately 16:40, IOF warplanes bombarded a house belonging to ’Abdul Karim al-Sha’er in al-Junaina quarter in Jabalya. They bombarded the house again at 04:55 and 05:20. the house was destroyed and a number of neighboring houses were damaged. Ten civilians were also wounded.
• At approximately 08:15, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at 3 children from the Hamdan family who were near their house in al-Sikka Street in the west of Beit Hanoun town. Two children were killed: Lamia, 4; and Haya, 11. Their brother was also wounded.
• At approximately 13:00, an IOF aircraft fired a missile Mohammed Akram Shabat, 23, a resistance activist, when he was walking in the center of Beit Hanoun town. He was wounded by shrapnel to the back.
• At approximately 13:10, IOF attacked a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance on al-Kashef Hill. Two activists were wounded.
• At approximately 15:30, IOF warplanes bombarded a house belonging to Ahmed Abu Hussein in the center of Jabalya refugee camp. The house was destroyed and a number of neighboring houses were damaged. Two Palestinian civilians were wounded.
• At approximately 20:15, IOF warplanes bombarded a 2-storey house belonging to Mohammed ’Ouda near Kamal ’Edwan Hospital in Beit Lahia town. The house was damaged. IOF warplanes bombarded the house again 10 minutes later. The house was destroyed a number of neighboring houses were heavily damaged.
• At approximately 21:10, IOF warplanes fired missiles at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance in Jabalya town. Two activists were wounded.
• At approximately 21:50, IOF warplanes fired missiles at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance near al-Shaimaa’ School in Beit Lahia town. Two activists were seriously wounded and one of them died from his wound later.
• At approximately 23:20, IOF warplanes bombarded an agricultural area in Fad’ous quarter in Beit Lahia town. A number of green houses were destroyed.

Wednesday, 31 December 2008

• At approximately 02:30, IOF warplanes bombarded a 2-store house belonging to Yousef al-Najma in al-Twam area in the west of Jabalya. They first fired a warning missile at the house and the familt evacuated it. The warplanes then bombarded the house destroying it. A number of neighboring houses were damaged.
• At approximately 18:30, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City declared that 11-year-old Isma’il Talal Hamdan died from a wound he had sustained near his house on the preceding day. Two of his sister died in that attack.
• At approximately 22:25, IOF bombarded a 2-storey house belonging to Jom’a ’Alloush in the center of Beit Hanoun. As a result, Fatema ’Alloush, 65, was killed, and the owner’s wife and two grandsons were shocked.

Gaza City

As a result of the IOF offensive on Gaza City, 153 Palestinians, including 45 civilians, have been killed. The victims include 10 children and 7 women. The victims also 9 students of an UNRWA vocational training center, 3 brothers, a physician, a paramedic and a man and his two children. Additionally, 250 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been wounded. IOF have bombarded 14 security sites, 3 charities, the compound of ministries, the building of the Palestinian Legislative Council, the building of the cabinet, the buildings of the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Interior, 2 mosques, 8 houses, 10 workshops and shops, 3 educational institutions, the building of a television channel, Gaza Harbor, a sports club and 3 money exchange shops. IOF have bombarded a number of security sites more than once. A number of houses and civilian facilities located near the places that have been attacked have been damaged.