IOF Kills Four Palestinian Civilians, Including Two Children, in Artillery Shelling and Four Members of the Palestinian Resistance in Aerial Bombardment in Gaza City
March 23, 2011 - The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) has continued to commit war crimes in the Gaza Strip and intensified its artillery and aerial bombardment in populated areas. These bombing missions are clearly targeting Palestinian civilians. Yesterday, 22 March 2011, IOF killed four Palestinian civilians. Two children were killed. A man, his grandchild, his cousin and neighbor were also killed. Another eleven civilians, including eight children, were wounded, three seriously. These civilians were targeted while playing football near their houses in al-Shejaeya neighborhood in the east of Gaza city. This morning, the Israeli radio quoted Israeli military sources as claiming that one of the shells veered off course and caused casualties. PCHR investigations refutes this IOF allegation. A populated area was targeted with four shells....
[76128]
|
Uruknet on Alexa
>
:: Segnala Uruknet agli amici. Clicka qui.
:: Invite your friends to Uruknet. Click here.
:: Segnalaci un articolo
:: Tell us of an article
|
|
IOF Kills Four Palestinian Civilians, Including Two Children, in Artillery Shelling and Four Members of the Palestinian Resistance in Aerial Bombardment in Gaza City
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)
 |
Palestinians sit next to the bodies of three members from the Al-Helow family during their funeral in al-Omari mosque in Gaza City March 23, 2011. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
PCHR, March 23, 2011
Ref: 24/2011
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) has continued to commit war crimes in the Gaza Strip and intensified its artillery and aerial bombardment in populated areas. These bombing missions are clearly targeting Palestinian civilians. Yesterday, 22 March 2011, IOF killed four Palestinian civilians. Two children were killed. A man, his grandchild, his cousin and neighbor were also killed. Another eleven civilians, including eight children, were wounded, three seriously. These civilians were targeted while playing football near their houses in al-Shejaeya neighborhood in the east of Gaza city.
This morning, the Israeli radio quoted Israeli military sources as claiming that one of the shells veered off course and caused casualties. PCHR investigations refutes this IOF allegation. A populated area was targeted with four shells. Whether any of the shells veers off course or not, this targeting could reasonably be expected to cause civilian casualties.
According to an investigation conducted by PCHR, at approximately 15:10 on 22 March 2011, IOF positioned along the border line in the east of Gaza City fired four consecutive artillery shells at al-Nazzaz street in al-Shejaeya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. Al-Nazzaz street is approximately 2,000 meters from the border line. The first shell landed on a 2-storey house located on 150m2 belonging to Samer Walid Mushtaha. The second floor of the house was totally destroyed while the first floor was partially damaged. The second shell landed on vacant land located nearby vacant land which belongs to al-Helo family.
The third shell landed near a group of children and older boys who were playing football in a square near their houses in al-Nazzaz street. Mohammed Saber Harara, 19, and Mohammed Jalal al-Helo were immediately killed and their bodies were dismembered. Just few seconds later, the fourth shell landed near Yaser Hamed al-Helo, 51, and his grandchild Yaser Ahed al-Helo, 15, while they were trying to open the door of their garage and drive their car to rescue the wounded. They were immediately killed. Another 11 civilians, including eight children, sustained shrapnel wounds. The wounds of three civilians were described to be serious.
Note: PCHR maintains the names of the wounded.
In another crime, at approximately 19:50 on 22 March 2011, an IOF warplane fired two missiles at members of the al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad movement, near Abdul Aziz al-Rantisi Mosque in the east of al-Zaytoon Neighborhood, eastern Gaza city. They were approximately 1,500 meters from the border with Israel. Four of them were immediately killed:
1. Sadi Mahmoud Helles, 22, from al-Shejaeya neighborhood.
2. Adham Fayez al-Harazin, 28, from al-Shejaeya neighborhood.
3. Mohammed Ateya al-Harazin, 27, from al-Shejaeya neighborhood.
4. Mohammed Akram Abed, 32, from al-Shati refugee camp.
PCHR condemns these crimes and is gravely concerned. PCHR also:
1. Asserts that these crimes are part of a series of war crimes committed by IOF in the oPt, which reflect total disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians.
2. Warns of the escalation of war crimes against Palestinian civilians in view of the statements and threats expressed by Israeli political and military officials who have vowed more casualties in the Gaza Strip.
3. Calls upon the international community to take immediate action in order to put an end to such crimes. PCHR further renews its demand for the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligation under Article 1 which stipulates "the High Contracting Parties undertake to respect and to ensure respect for the present Convention in all circumstances," as well as their obligations under Article 146 which requires that the Contracting Parties prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention. These grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and under Protocol I Additional to Geneva Conventions.
|
|
:: Article nr. 76128 sent on 23-mar-2011 14:56 ECT
www.uruknet.info?p=76128
:: The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website.
The section for the comments of our readers has been closed, because of many out-of-topics.
Now you can post your own comments into our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/uruknet
[ Printable version
] | [ Send it to a friend ]
[ Contatto/Contact ] | [ Home Page ] | [Tutte le notizie/All news ]
|
|
Uruknet on Twitter
::
RSS updated to 2.0
:: English
:: Italiano
::
Uruknet for your mobile phone:
www.uruknet.mobi
Uruknet on Facebook
The newsletter archive
:: All events
|
