1 aug 2014
Eight-year-old Karam Abu Shanab has been traumatised by the bombardment
After an Israeli strike hit an UN-run school in the night, Gazan children are fearful of going to sleep. Meanwhile, their parents know that the school and hospitals traditionally seen as shelters have clearly become targets
“In the night, I am frightened by the bombings, missiles and the thought of the blood of injured people in the street,” says 8-year-old Karam Abu Shanab.
“I can’t sleep in the night, my mind is filled with bad images from the Israeli bombs,” he tells his mother, who says her other three children: Saleh, Malak and Sjoud are all unable to sleep - after hearing how children were bombed in their sleep at the UNRWA schools in Jabalyia.
Karam is now taking shelter at the al-Rafdeen school in Gaza City. Among the children there is constant talk about it being bombed and how parents cannot put a stop to it all.
At least 19 died in the attack on Jabalyia refugee camp and another 200 were injured. Israel has been accused of breaking international laws over the strike, which was also condemned by the UN as “a source of universal shame".
Families such as Karam, his mother and his three brothers went to the shelter believing that it would be safe place to take refuge - but no-one is safe.
“Everyone is a target here, but where else should we go?” asks Umm Karam, while holding children who fear the next Israeli airstrike. “Everyday” she says to MEE. “I look at my children, and hug them to make them feel safe and sound.”
About 10 days ago, Karam Abu Shanab lost his home and all of his clothes and belongings in the bombardment of eastern Gaza City. Now al-Rafedeen School is the only shelter he has. His home was one of 747 homes damaged or totally destroyed since Israel’s present offensive began, more than 3 weeks ago.
According to the United Nations, more than 240,000 Palestinians have now sought refuge at UN or government-run schools, informal shelters or with relatives and friends.
Inside the UNRWA schools, Gaza’s refugees don’t feel safe. Some fled the schools to find other shelter after Israel attacked its second UN school in a week on Wednesday - a UN school that Israel knew was being used as a civilian shelter.
According to the United Nations, this brings the toll of schools attacked and damaged to at least 133 facilities, and another 23 health facilities have also been targeted.
Umm Ahmed Suhawil, 54, knows that schools are targeted, so she has considered trying a hospital, but this is not a safe option either because hospitals have also been directly targeted by Israeli gunfire.
On Thursday morning, an Israeli artillery shell hit al-Aqsa hospital in Deir el Balah, central Gaza, leaving 1 nurse injured. The week before, the same hospital was hit by 10 Israeli tank shells leaving five dead and 70 injured, says Dr Khalil Khattab.
Some families decided to split up and go to different shelters hoping that when Israel attacks again, at least some members might survive.
As a mother and grandmother, Suhawil takes care of 17 children in their family home in Beit Hanoun, in the north of the Gaza Strip.
“I had to leave the house when Israeli troops called, telling me I must evacuate the house - which I did, by coming here,” she says as she hangs children’s underwear out to dry on a window of a classroom.
She adds that she did not leave immediately as she waited until she saw her neighbors leaving. “Luckily, we left because moments later Israeli tank shells came down like hot rain drops.”
She and her family had no time to gather anything for emergency supplies. They left with just the clothes on their backs, not knowing if they would ever return home. Some of the children were barefoot.
“It was early morning, I dragged everyone out of bed with the help of my son and his wife,” she says, trying to comfort her 10-year-old daughter Fatima Suhwail, who is crying again at the sound of an Israeli missile hitting nearby.
“Now the children fear everything, every sound, even a door banging makes them tense, scream and tremble and they hold on tight to me,” she says, as she holds onto Fatima’s hands.
Suhwail described the moments of horror when they were leaving the house. She feared leaving behind one of the children, so she ran back and forth and kept looking behind to ensure that all the children were still with her as she led them away.
When Israel and Hamas agreed on a 12-hour humanitarian ceasefire last week, she ran to the house to get some spare clothes - but she didn’t recognize the entire area after Israel’s bombing.
“It wasn’t possible to tell which part was the street, and which had been our home - until I saw our burned clothes and belongings in the rubble - none of which were usable anymore,” Suhwail says with tears in her eyes.“In the night, I am frightened by the bombings, missiles and the thought of the blood of injured people in the street,” says 8-year-old Karam Abu Shanab.
“I can’t sleep in the night, my mind is filled with bad images from the Israeli bombs,” he tells his mother, who says her other three children: Saleh, Malak and Sjoud are all unable to sleep - after hearing how children were bombed in their sleep at the UNRWA schools in Jabalyia.
Karam is now taking shelter at the al-Rafdeen school in Gaza City. Among the children there is constant talk about it being bombed and how parents cannot put a stop to it all.
At least 19 died in the attack on Jabalyia refugee camp and another 200 were injured. Israel has been accused of breaking international laws over the strike, which was also condemned by the UN as “a source of universal shame".
Families such as Karam, his mother and his three brothers went to the shelter believing that it would be safe place to take refuge - but no-one is safe.
“Everyone is a target here, but where else should we go?” asks Umm Karam, while holding children who fear the next Israeli airstrike. “Everyday” she says to MEE. “I look at my children, and hug them to make them feel safe and sound.”
About 10 days ago, Karam Abu Shanab lost his home and all of his clothes and belongings in the bombardment of eastern Gaza City. Now al-Rafedeen School is the only shelter he has. His home was one of 747 homes damaged or totally destroyed since Israel’s present offensive began, more than 3 weeks ago.
According to the United Nations, more than 240,000 Palestinians have now sought refuge at UN or government-run schools, informal shelters or with relatives and friends.
Inside the UNRWA schools, Gaza’s refugees don’t feel safe. Some fled the schools to find other shelter after Israel attacked its second UN school in a week on Wednesday - a UN school that Israel knew was being used as a civilian shelter.
According to the United Nations, this brings the toll of schools attacked and damaged to at least 133 facilities, and another 23 health facilities have also been targeted.
Umm Ahmed Suhawil, 54, knows that schools are targeted, so she has considered trying a hospital, but this is not a safe option either because hospitals have also been directly targeted by Israeli gunfire.
On Thursday morning, an Israeli artillery shell hit al-Aqsa hospital in Deir el Balah, central Gaza, leaving 1 nurse injured. The week before, the same hospital was hit by 10 Israeli tank shells leaving five dead and 70 injured, says Dr Khalil Khattab.
Some families decided to split up and go to different shelters hoping that when Israel attacks again, at least some members might survive.
As a mother and grandmother, Suhawil takes care of 17 children in their family home in Beit Hanoun, in the north of the Gaza Strip.
“I had to leave the house when Israeli troops called, telling me I must evacuate the house - which I did, by coming here,” she says as she hangs children’s underwear out to dry on a window of a classroom.
She adds that she did not leave immediately as she waited until she saw her neighbors leaving. “Luckily, we left because moments later Israeli tank shells came down like hot rain drops.”
She and her family had no time to gather anything for emergency supplies. They left with just the clothes on their backs, not knowing if they would ever return home. Some of the children were barefoot.
“It was early morning, I dragged everyone out of bed with the help of my son and his wife,” she says, trying to comfort her 10-year-old daughter Fatima Suhwail, who is crying again at the sound of an Israeli missile hitting nearby.
“Now the children fear everything, every sound, even a door banging makes them tense, scream and tremble and they hold on tight to me,” she says, as she holds onto Fatima’s hands.
Suhwail described the moments of horror when they were leaving the house. She feared leaving behind one of the children, so she ran back and forth and kept looking behind to ensure that all the children were still with her as she led them away.
When Israel and Hamas agreed on a 12-hour humanitarian ceasefire last week, she ran to the house to get some spare clothes - but she didn’t recognize the entire area after Israel’s bombing.
“It wasn’t possible to tell which part was the street, and which had been our home - until I saw our burned clothes and belongings in the rubble - none of which were usable anymore,” Suhwail says with tears in her eyes.
After an Israeli strike hit an UN-run school in the night, Gazan children are fearful of going to sleep. Meanwhile, their parents know that the school and hospitals traditionally seen as shelters have clearly become targets
“In the night, I am frightened by the bombings, missiles and the thought of the blood of injured people in the street,” says 8-year-old Karam Abu Shanab.
“I can’t sleep in the night, my mind is filled with bad images from the Israeli bombs,” he tells his mother, who says her other three children: Saleh, Malak and Sjoud are all unable to sleep - after hearing how children were bombed in their sleep at the UNRWA schools in Jabalyia.
Karam is now taking shelter at the al-Rafdeen school in Gaza City. Among the children there is constant talk about it being bombed and how parents cannot put a stop to it all.
At least 19 died in the attack on Jabalyia refugee camp and another 200 were injured. Israel has been accused of breaking international laws over the strike, which was also condemned by the UN as “a source of universal shame".
Families such as Karam, his mother and his three brothers went to the shelter believing that it would be safe place to take refuge - but no-one is safe.
“Everyone is a target here, but where else should we go?” asks Umm Karam, while holding children who fear the next Israeli airstrike. “Everyday” she says to MEE. “I look at my children, and hug them to make them feel safe and sound.”
About 10 days ago, Karam Abu Shanab lost his home and all of his clothes and belongings in the bombardment of eastern Gaza City. Now al-Rafedeen School is the only shelter he has. His home was one of 747 homes damaged or totally destroyed since Israel’s present offensive began, more than 3 weeks ago.
According to the United Nations, more than 240,000 Palestinians have now sought refuge at UN or government-run schools, informal shelters or with relatives and friends.
Inside the UNRWA schools, Gaza’s refugees don’t feel safe. Some fled the schools to find other shelter after Israel attacked its second UN school in a week on Wednesday - a UN school that Israel knew was being used as a civilian shelter.
According to the United Nations, this brings the toll of schools attacked and damaged to at least 133 facilities, and another 23 health facilities have also been targeted.
Umm Ahmed Suhawil, 54, knows that schools are targeted, so she has considered trying a hospital, but this is not a safe option either because hospitals have also been directly targeted by Israeli gunfire.
On Thursday morning, an Israeli artillery shell hit al-Aqsa hospital in Deir el Balah, central Gaza, leaving 1 nurse injured. The week before, the same hospital was hit by 10 Israeli tank shells leaving five dead and 70 injured, says Dr Khalil Khattab.
Some families decided to split up and go to different shelters hoping that when Israel attacks again, at least some members might survive.
As a mother and grandmother, Suhawil takes care of 17 children in their family home in Beit Hanoun, in the north of the Gaza Strip.
“I had to leave the house when Israeli troops called, telling me I must evacuate the house - which I did, by coming here,” she says as she hangs children’s underwear out to dry on a window of a classroom.
She adds that she did not leave immediately as she waited until she saw her neighbors leaving. “Luckily, we left because moments later Israeli tank shells came down like hot rain drops.”
She and her family had no time to gather anything for emergency supplies. They left with just the clothes on their backs, not knowing if they would ever return home. Some of the children were barefoot.
“It was early morning, I dragged everyone out of bed with the help of my son and his wife,” she says, trying to comfort her 10-year-old daughter Fatima Suhwail, who is crying again at the sound of an Israeli missile hitting nearby.
“Now the children fear everything, every sound, even a door banging makes them tense, scream and tremble and they hold on tight to me,” she says, as she holds onto Fatima’s hands.
Suhwail described the moments of horror when they were leaving the house. She feared leaving behind one of the children, so she ran back and forth and kept looking behind to ensure that all the children were still with her as she led them away.
When Israel and Hamas agreed on a 12-hour humanitarian ceasefire last week, she ran to the house to get some spare clothes - but she didn’t recognize the entire area after Israel’s bombing.
“It wasn’t possible to tell which part was the street, and which had been our home - until I saw our burned clothes and belongings in the rubble - none of which were usable anymore,” Suhwail says with tears in her eyes.“In the night, I am frightened by the bombings, missiles and the thought of the blood of injured people in the street,” says 8-year-old Karam Abu Shanab.
“I can’t sleep in the night, my mind is filled with bad images from the Israeli bombs,” he tells his mother, who says her other three children: Saleh, Malak and Sjoud are all unable to sleep - after hearing how children were bombed in their sleep at the UNRWA schools in Jabalyia.
Karam is now taking shelter at the al-Rafdeen school in Gaza City. Among the children there is constant talk about it being bombed and how parents cannot put a stop to it all.
At least 19 died in the attack on Jabalyia refugee camp and another 200 were injured. Israel has been accused of breaking international laws over the strike, which was also condemned by the UN as “a source of universal shame".
Families such as Karam, his mother and his three brothers went to the shelter believing that it would be safe place to take refuge - but no-one is safe.
“Everyone is a target here, but where else should we go?” asks Umm Karam, while holding children who fear the next Israeli airstrike. “Everyday” she says to MEE. “I look at my children, and hug them to make them feel safe and sound.”
About 10 days ago, Karam Abu Shanab lost his home and all of his clothes and belongings in the bombardment of eastern Gaza City. Now al-Rafedeen School is the only shelter he has. His home was one of 747 homes damaged or totally destroyed since Israel’s present offensive began, more than 3 weeks ago.
According to the United Nations, more than 240,000 Palestinians have now sought refuge at UN or government-run schools, informal shelters or with relatives and friends.
Inside the UNRWA schools, Gaza’s refugees don’t feel safe. Some fled the schools to find other shelter after Israel attacked its second UN school in a week on Wednesday - a UN school that Israel knew was being used as a civilian shelter.
According to the United Nations, this brings the toll of schools attacked and damaged to at least 133 facilities, and another 23 health facilities have also been targeted.
Umm Ahmed Suhawil, 54, knows that schools are targeted, so she has considered trying a hospital, but this is not a safe option either because hospitals have also been directly targeted by Israeli gunfire.
On Thursday morning, an Israeli artillery shell hit al-Aqsa hospital in Deir el Balah, central Gaza, leaving 1 nurse injured. The week before, the same hospital was hit by 10 Israeli tank shells leaving five dead and 70 injured, says Dr Khalil Khattab.
Some families decided to split up and go to different shelters hoping that when Israel attacks again, at least some members might survive.
As a mother and grandmother, Suhawil takes care of 17 children in their family home in Beit Hanoun, in the north of the Gaza Strip.
“I had to leave the house when Israeli troops called, telling me I must evacuate the house - which I did, by coming here,” she says as she hangs children’s underwear out to dry on a window of a classroom.
She adds that she did not leave immediately as she waited until she saw her neighbors leaving. “Luckily, we left because moments later Israeli tank shells came down like hot rain drops.”
She and her family had no time to gather anything for emergency supplies. They left with just the clothes on their backs, not knowing if they would ever return home. Some of the children were barefoot.
“It was early morning, I dragged everyone out of bed with the help of my son and his wife,” she says, trying to comfort her 10-year-old daughter Fatima Suhwail, who is crying again at the sound of an Israeli missile hitting nearby.
“Now the children fear everything, every sound, even a door banging makes them tense, scream and tremble and they hold on tight to me,” she says, as she holds onto Fatima’s hands.
Suhwail described the moments of horror when they were leaving the house. She feared leaving behind one of the children, so she ran back and forth and kept looking behind to ensure that all the children were still with her as she led them away.
When Israel and Hamas agreed on a 12-hour humanitarian ceasefire last week, she ran to the house to get some spare clothes - but she didn’t recognize the entire area after Israel’s bombing.
“It wasn’t possible to tell which part was the street, and which had been our home - until I saw our burned clothes and belongings in the rubble - none of which were usable anymore,” Suhwail says with tears in her eyes.
Fatima doesn't want the same fate as those in the UNRWA school
Her daughter Fatima insists to her mother that she does not want her fate to be the same as the children that were killed and injured in Wednesday’s bombing of the UNRWA school. In tears she asks: “Mum, let’s leave here, please?”
Her mother tries to comfort her with little success - she doesn’t know herself where else they can go. She explains that Fatima has been very sick for over a week from the constant bombings and living in a crowded classroom.
“At night, I fear the bombing. I can’t sleep, my stomach hurts and my ears hurt,” says the child softly as she is hardly able to speak without pain.
“The rockets and bombs make me scared and feel pain - the humming sound of the tanks scares me,” Fatima adds.
Ten days ago, she could hear the noises of tanks and bulldozers, but now in the shelter she hears F16s, drones and shelling by tanks and warships.
Fatima had asked her mother to bring back her favorite toy - a bride doll - when she went back to her destroyed home to find some more clothes.
“I want to go back home mom, and sleep in my usual room with my sisters and get ready for school,” she says.
But whether Fatima likes it or not - this is their reality and the al Rafedeen School is now home for the Suhawil family. However, when school begins again in September, students and teachers will need their classrooms back.
“Where do we go from here, I have no idea,” says the mother of Fatima Suhwail.
Her daughter Fatima insists to her mother that she does not want her fate to be the same as the children that were killed and injured in Wednesday’s bombing of the UNRWA school. In tears she asks: “Mum, let’s leave here, please?”
Her mother tries to comfort her with little success - she doesn’t know herself where else they can go. She explains that Fatima has been very sick for over a week from the constant bombings and living in a crowded classroom.
“At night, I fear the bombing. I can’t sleep, my stomach hurts and my ears hurt,” says the child softly as she is hardly able to speak without pain.
“The rockets and bombs make me scared and feel pain - the humming sound of the tanks scares me,” Fatima adds.
Ten days ago, she could hear the noises of tanks and bulldozers, but now in the shelter she hears F16s, drones and shelling by tanks and warships.
Fatima had asked her mother to bring back her favorite toy - a bride doll - when she went back to her destroyed home to find some more clothes.
“I want to go back home mom, and sleep in my usual room with my sisters and get ready for school,” she says.
But whether Fatima likes it or not - this is their reality and the al Rafedeen School is now home for the Suhawil family. However, when school begins again in September, students and teachers will need their classrooms back.
“Where do we go from here, I have no idea,” says the mother of Fatima Suhwail.
4 of the 5 childkillers
The Israeli military on Friday said in a statement that five Israeli soldiers had been killed by mortar fire Thursday evening.
The statement comes after Israeli media reported six had been injured in mortar fire on Eshkol on Thursday.
19 soldiers have been injured in the last 24 hours alone, the military added.
The deaths bring the military death toll for Israel to 61, in what has been the deadliest conflict for the army since the 2006 invasion of Lebanon.
64 Israelis have been killed by Palestinian militants since the assault began, more than 95 percent of which have been combatants.
Israeli forces, meanwhile, have killed more than 1,400 Palestinians, the vast majority of which have been civilians according to Gaza-based watchdogs.
The Israeli military on Friday said in a statement that five Israeli soldiers had been killed by mortar fire Thursday evening.
The statement comes after Israeli media reported six had been injured in mortar fire on Eshkol on Thursday.
19 soldiers have been injured in the last 24 hours alone, the military added.
The deaths bring the military death toll for Israel to 61, in what has been the deadliest conflict for the army since the 2006 invasion of Lebanon.
64 Israelis have been killed by Palestinian militants since the assault began, more than 95 percent of which have been combatants.
Israeli forces, meanwhile, have killed more than 1,400 Palestinians, the vast majority of which have been civilians according to Gaza-based watchdogs.
As thousands of Gazans poured out of their homes on Friday morning to take advantage of the temporary cessation to hostilities to stock up on household goods, medical teams fanned out to areas devastated by Israeli bombardment.
The teams searched the rubble for dead Palestinian bodies that they had been unable to reach previously due to Israeli shelling, as well as Israeli rules that prevent ambulances from reaching the injured in border areas.
On Friday morning so far, medics had pulled two bodies out from under rubble in Rafah in southern Gaza Strip.
The bodies of Moussa Hamad Abu Imran and Hilal Eid Abu Imran were brought to Abu Youssef al-Najjar hospital in Rafah.
Since the beginning of its three-week assault on Gaza, Israel has imposed increasingly restrictive measures against movement in the Gaza Strip, with the UN saying that around 43 percent of the tiny coastal enclave is now off-limits to Gazans.
Ambulances, meanwhile, must coordinate entry to these areas with both the Red Cross and Israeli forces, and permission is not always forthcoming.
The PLO says that 13 hospitals and 10 clinics have been damaged in Israeli strikes since the beginning of the assault, while 12 ambulances have been damaged, 38 health personnel injured, and 15 health personnel killed.
The teams searched the rubble for dead Palestinian bodies that they had been unable to reach previously due to Israeli shelling, as well as Israeli rules that prevent ambulances from reaching the injured in border areas.
On Friday morning so far, medics had pulled two bodies out from under rubble in Rafah in southern Gaza Strip.
The bodies of Moussa Hamad Abu Imran and Hilal Eid Abu Imran were brought to Abu Youssef al-Najjar hospital in Rafah.
Since the beginning of its three-week assault on Gaza, Israel has imposed increasingly restrictive measures against movement in the Gaza Strip, with the UN saying that around 43 percent of the tiny coastal enclave is now off-limits to Gazans.
Ambulances, meanwhile, must coordinate entry to these areas with both the Red Cross and Israeli forces, and permission is not always forthcoming.
The PLO says that 13 hospitals and 10 clinics have been damaged in Israeli strikes since the beginning of the assault, while 12 ambulances have been damaged, 38 health personnel injured, and 15 health personnel killed.
Intense clashes erupted Friday morning between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants in the southeastern Gaza Strip after Palestinian militants attacks a post and captured an Israeli soldier.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza said that at least 35 Palestinians were killed and more than 200 injured in Israeli shelling on Rafah that occurred in response to the attack.
The clashes came after Israeli forces shelled Gaza multiple times since the commencement of the ceasefire, killing four Palestinians. Before it came into effect at 8 a.m., Israel had already killed 16 Palestinians in strikes and shelling since midnight.
Fighters reportedly emerged on Friday morning from tunnels, firing mortar shells toward the Israeli region of Eshkol across the border.
One man approached Israeli forces and blew himself up during the operation.
Israel Channel 10 said that Israeli forces were chasing down the armed men east of Rafah and was trying to prevent them from going further into the city.
Clashes were ongoing in the areas of al-Nasser, the destroyed Gaza International Airport, al-Bilbeisi and al-Bayuk east of Gaza City.
The channel's reporter said that "armed Palestinians attacked Israeli forces in eastern Rafah city with shells, grenades, and automatic weapons, which led to clashes in the area."
An Israeli military spokesperson, meanwhile, said that the 72-hour ceasefire that was announced earlier was over and that military operations would "resume."
The Islamic Jihad-affiliated Palestine TV reported that the ceasefire had been "interrupted" because an Israeli soldier had gone missing.
Israeli authorities, meanwhile, warned the residents of local towns inside Israel to stay in their homes.
The reporter added that Israeli warplanes had "joined" the battle.
Israeli media reported earlier that there was a "serious security incident" in Kerem Shalom area, declaring the area a closed military zone.
Unconfirmed reports of Israeli soldier captured near Kerem Shalom
Amid intense clashes east of Rafah near Kerem Shalom crossing, there were unconfirmed reports of an Israeli soldier captured in the area.
Israel informs UN that ceasefire has ended, will resume operations
The Ministry of Health in Gaza said that at least 35 Palestinians were killed and more than 200 injured in Israeli shelling on Rafah that occurred in response to the attack.
The clashes came after Israeli forces shelled Gaza multiple times since the commencement of the ceasefire, killing four Palestinians. Before it came into effect at 8 a.m., Israel had already killed 16 Palestinians in strikes and shelling since midnight.
Fighters reportedly emerged on Friday morning from tunnels, firing mortar shells toward the Israeli region of Eshkol across the border.
One man approached Israeli forces and blew himself up during the operation.
Israel Channel 10 said that Israeli forces were chasing down the armed men east of Rafah and was trying to prevent them from going further into the city.
Clashes were ongoing in the areas of al-Nasser, the destroyed Gaza International Airport, al-Bilbeisi and al-Bayuk east of Gaza City.
The channel's reporter said that "armed Palestinians attacked Israeli forces in eastern Rafah city with shells, grenades, and automatic weapons, which led to clashes in the area."
An Israeli military spokesperson, meanwhile, said that the 72-hour ceasefire that was announced earlier was over and that military operations would "resume."
The Islamic Jihad-affiliated Palestine TV reported that the ceasefire had been "interrupted" because an Israeli soldier had gone missing.
Israeli authorities, meanwhile, warned the residents of local towns inside Israel to stay in their homes.
The reporter added that Israeli warplanes had "joined" the battle.
Israeli media reported earlier that there was a "serious security incident" in Kerem Shalom area, declaring the area a closed military zone.
Unconfirmed reports of Israeli soldier captured near Kerem Shalom
Amid intense clashes east of Rafah near Kerem Shalom crossing, there were unconfirmed reports of an Israeli soldier captured in the area.
Israel informs UN that ceasefire has ended, will resume operations
Israeli shelling kills 3 in Gaza City
Three Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces on Friday, only hours after a 72-hour ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect.
Ahmad Muhammad Hasanein, was shot dead by Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza City, while the bodies of Bassel Diab al-Bsyuni, 37, and an unidentified man were brought to Kamal Adwan hospital as a result of an Israeli strike.
Three Palestinians injured in Israeli shelling in Rafah
Three Palestinians were injured in Israeli shelling east of Rafah on Friday morning, two hours after a ceasefire went into effect.
Three Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces on Friday, only hours after a 72-hour ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect.
Ahmad Muhammad Hasanein, was shot dead by Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza City, while the bodies of Bassel Diab al-Bsyuni, 37, and an unidentified man were brought to Kamal Adwan hospital as a result of an Israeli strike.
Three Palestinians injured in Israeli shelling in Rafah
Three Palestinians were injured in Israeli shelling east of Rafah on Friday morning, two hours after a ceasefire went into effect.
Local sources in Gaza have reported that Israeli soldiers opened fire at Palestinians, trying to reach their homes in Rafah, Gaza City, and several areas in the Gaza Strip. Medics and rescue teams located remains of several Palestinians in different parts of the Gaza Strip.
The sources said that the army is preventing the Palestinians from reaching their homes in areas that witnessed heaving bombardment on Friday, at dawn, on Thursday evening and during previous days, opening fire at several them.
Three Palestinians were injured east of Rafah, two hours after the temporary 72-hour ceasefire started.
Medical sources said medics and rescue teams located the remains of at least eight Palestinians in Gaza City, Rafah, Khan Younis, and several other areas, while four Palestinians have been killed following the beginning of the temporary ceasefire; more than fifteen Palestinians have been injured by army fire.
The body of resident Ahmad Mohammad Hassanein was located in an area east of Gaza, while the remains of Bassel Diab al-Basyouni, and an unidentified Palestinians was found in northern Gaza.
Remains of two Palestinians, identified as Mousa Hamad Abu ‘Amran and Hilal Eid Abu ‘Amran, were located under the rubble of their home, bombarded by the army on Friday at dawn, in Khan Younis.
The remains of another Palestinian identified as Shadi Mohammad Jom’a Abu Daher, 29, were found in al-Meghraqa area, in Khan Younis.
The remains of resident Hasan Abdul-Majid al-Bayyoumi were also found under the rubble of his home in Deir al-Balah, in Central Gaza, and were moved to the al-Aqsa Hospital.
Earlier Friday, the remains of eight Palestinians have been located in ongoing search under rubble of bombarded homes, in Gaza, Rafah and Beit Lahia.
Earlier Friday, sixteen Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip before the temporary ceasefire started, while the army continued to target the Palestinians after the ceasefire came into effect.
According to the correspondent of France 24 TV in Gaza, at least four Palestinians, and three Israeli soldiers, have been killed after the temporary ceasefire started on Friday morning.
Israel kills 4 despite ceasefire, after 16 killed in hours before
Four Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces on Friday, only hours after a 72-hour ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect.
Ahmad Muhammad Hasanein, was shot dead by Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza City, while the bodies of Bassel Diab al-Bsyuni, 37, and an unidentified man were brought to Kamal Adwan hospital as a result of Israeli fire.
Shadi Muhammad Jumaa Abu Daher, 29, from al-Mughraqa, was also killed by Israeli fire.
A Ma'an correspondent in Gaza said that three were wounded after Israeli artillery fired several shells east of Rafah, in what appears to have been the first violation of the ceasefire by Israeli forces about two hours in.
In the eastern Gaza Strip, meanwhile, Israeli soldiers opened fire on Palestinian civilians who attempted to reach their homes in areas near the border.
After the Israeli attacks, sirens were heard at the Kerem Shalom border crossing with Israel, presumably as Palestinian militants fired rockets in response to the alleged Israeli violation.
Before the 72-hour ceasefire came into effect at 8 a.m., Israeli shelling on the Gaza Strip had already killed 16 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip since midnight.
The deaths brought the total since the beginning of the offensive to 1,461 and more than 8,400 injured, after hopes were raised that the three-day break in fighting could lead to a long-term end to Israel's 25-day assault that has displaced around 400,000 people, or 1 in 4 Gazans.
The ceasefire was announced early Friday by US Secretary of State John Kerry, who said that although forces would stay in place on the ground, the ceasefire was "critical" to giving civilians a "reprieve from the violence."
"During this period, civilians in Gaza will receive urgently needed humanitarian relief, and the opportunity to carry out vital functions, including burying the dead, taking care of the injured, and restocking food supplies," Kerry said.
During the ceasefire, both sides were expected to engage in talks in Cairo, and in the Gaza Strip on Friday morning Hamas and Islamic Jihad delegates were preparing to travel for the talks.
Palestinian sources said that the Hamas delegation from Gaza was composed of Khalil al-Hayya and Imad al-Alami, while Islamic Jihad leader Khalid al-Batsh will join Moussa Abu Marzouq, Izzat al-Rashq, Muhammad Nasser, and Ziyad al-Nikhala in Cairo.
As soon as the clock hit 8:00 a.m. on Friday, thousands of Palestinians took to streets in an attempt to get food and clean water after more than three weeks of Israeli bombardment, including two weeks of a ground assault that has killed more than 1,000.
Municipality and Civil Defense vehicles began cleaning out and opening streets closed by shelling, while others headed to areas that had been subject to intense shelling to look for bodies.
Mansour al-Khatib, the colonel for the Israeli Liaison at Erez, warned the more Palestinians who had fled their homes in border areas not to return during the ceasefire because "it could put their lives in danger" and might cause the Israeli army to shoot at them.
The Palestinian Civil Defense forces called upon people not to go to border areas to search for bodies without "coordinating with the Israeli army."
Killing continues until moments before ceasefire
Minutes before the ceasefire began the al-Qassam Brigades said they clashed with Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza City, al-Quds Brigades targeted Tel Aviv and Israel targeted al-Kilani family house in al-Sabra in southern Gaza City.
A Ma'an reporter said that six Palestinians were killed and 15 were injured in Israeli shelling at eastern Khan Younis early Friday before the ceasefire came into effect.
The six were identified as Abdullah Awad al-Breim, Muhammad Suleiman al-Breim, Maysun Rafat al-Breim, Raid Abdulatif al-Qarra, Sami Suleiman al-Madani and Hussam Suleiman al-Madani.
Ministry of Health Spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra added that nine Palestinians of one family were killed and sixteen others were injured in shelling targeting al-Farra family house in Khan Younis.
Ashraf al-Qidra identified them as Abdulmalik Abdulsalam al-Farra, 54, his son Usama Abdulmalik al-Farra, 34, Imad Abdulhafiz al-Farra, 28, Awatef Izz al-Din al-Farra, 29, Muhammad Mahmoud al-Farra, 12, Lujain Bassem al-Farra, 4, Yara Abdulsalam al-Farra , 8, and Nadine Mahmoud al-Farra and later Abdulrahman al-Farra, 8, was pronounced dead when he succumbed to wounds he sustained during the shelling.
Medics said Samih Kamal Abu al-Khair, 63, was killed and five others were injured during shelling at Khan Younis city.
15 Palestinians were injured in Israeli shelling at al-Zaytoun in southern Gaza City while Israeli shelling targeted eastern al-Shujaiyya, Jabaliya refugee camp, eastern Khan Younis and several other shells targeted al-Nafaq Street in central Gaza City.
Israeli warplanes also destroyed the house of Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Mabhouh,, who was killed earlier in Jabaliya.
A Palestinian was injured in shelling targeting Kutkut family house in al-Faluja in Jabaliya, and three others were injured in shelling targeting a motorcycle in al-Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in western Gaza City.
The sources said that the army is preventing the Palestinians from reaching their homes in areas that witnessed heaving bombardment on Friday, at dawn, on Thursday evening and during previous days, opening fire at several them.
Three Palestinians were injured east of Rafah, two hours after the temporary 72-hour ceasefire started.
Medical sources said medics and rescue teams located the remains of at least eight Palestinians in Gaza City, Rafah, Khan Younis, and several other areas, while four Palestinians have been killed following the beginning of the temporary ceasefire; more than fifteen Palestinians have been injured by army fire.
The body of resident Ahmad Mohammad Hassanein was located in an area east of Gaza, while the remains of Bassel Diab al-Basyouni, and an unidentified Palestinians was found in northern Gaza.
Remains of two Palestinians, identified as Mousa Hamad Abu ‘Amran and Hilal Eid Abu ‘Amran, were located under the rubble of their home, bombarded by the army on Friday at dawn, in Khan Younis.
The remains of another Palestinian identified as Shadi Mohammad Jom’a Abu Daher, 29, were found in al-Meghraqa area, in Khan Younis.
The remains of resident Hasan Abdul-Majid al-Bayyoumi were also found under the rubble of his home in Deir al-Balah, in Central Gaza, and were moved to the al-Aqsa Hospital.
Earlier Friday, the remains of eight Palestinians have been located in ongoing search under rubble of bombarded homes, in Gaza, Rafah and Beit Lahia.
Earlier Friday, sixteen Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip before the temporary ceasefire started, while the army continued to target the Palestinians after the ceasefire came into effect.
According to the correspondent of France 24 TV in Gaza, at least four Palestinians, and three Israeli soldiers, have been killed after the temporary ceasefire started on Friday morning.
Israel kills 4 despite ceasefire, after 16 killed in hours before
Four Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces on Friday, only hours after a 72-hour ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect.
Ahmad Muhammad Hasanein, was shot dead by Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza City, while the bodies of Bassel Diab al-Bsyuni, 37, and an unidentified man were brought to Kamal Adwan hospital as a result of Israeli fire.
Shadi Muhammad Jumaa Abu Daher, 29, from al-Mughraqa, was also killed by Israeli fire.
A Ma'an correspondent in Gaza said that three were wounded after Israeli artillery fired several shells east of Rafah, in what appears to have been the first violation of the ceasefire by Israeli forces about two hours in.
In the eastern Gaza Strip, meanwhile, Israeli soldiers opened fire on Palestinian civilians who attempted to reach their homes in areas near the border.
After the Israeli attacks, sirens were heard at the Kerem Shalom border crossing with Israel, presumably as Palestinian militants fired rockets in response to the alleged Israeli violation.
Before the 72-hour ceasefire came into effect at 8 a.m., Israeli shelling on the Gaza Strip had already killed 16 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip since midnight.
The deaths brought the total since the beginning of the offensive to 1,461 and more than 8,400 injured, after hopes were raised that the three-day break in fighting could lead to a long-term end to Israel's 25-day assault that has displaced around 400,000 people, or 1 in 4 Gazans.
The ceasefire was announced early Friday by US Secretary of State John Kerry, who said that although forces would stay in place on the ground, the ceasefire was "critical" to giving civilians a "reprieve from the violence."
"During this period, civilians in Gaza will receive urgently needed humanitarian relief, and the opportunity to carry out vital functions, including burying the dead, taking care of the injured, and restocking food supplies," Kerry said.
During the ceasefire, both sides were expected to engage in talks in Cairo, and in the Gaza Strip on Friday morning Hamas and Islamic Jihad delegates were preparing to travel for the talks.
Palestinian sources said that the Hamas delegation from Gaza was composed of Khalil al-Hayya and Imad al-Alami, while Islamic Jihad leader Khalid al-Batsh will join Moussa Abu Marzouq, Izzat al-Rashq, Muhammad Nasser, and Ziyad al-Nikhala in Cairo.
As soon as the clock hit 8:00 a.m. on Friday, thousands of Palestinians took to streets in an attempt to get food and clean water after more than three weeks of Israeli bombardment, including two weeks of a ground assault that has killed more than 1,000.
Municipality and Civil Defense vehicles began cleaning out and opening streets closed by shelling, while others headed to areas that had been subject to intense shelling to look for bodies.
Mansour al-Khatib, the colonel for the Israeli Liaison at Erez, warned the more Palestinians who had fled their homes in border areas not to return during the ceasefire because "it could put their lives in danger" and might cause the Israeli army to shoot at them.
The Palestinian Civil Defense forces called upon people not to go to border areas to search for bodies without "coordinating with the Israeli army."
Killing continues until moments before ceasefire
Minutes before the ceasefire began the al-Qassam Brigades said they clashed with Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza City, al-Quds Brigades targeted Tel Aviv and Israel targeted al-Kilani family house in al-Sabra in southern Gaza City.
A Ma'an reporter said that six Palestinians were killed and 15 were injured in Israeli shelling at eastern Khan Younis early Friday before the ceasefire came into effect.
The six were identified as Abdullah Awad al-Breim, Muhammad Suleiman al-Breim, Maysun Rafat al-Breim, Raid Abdulatif al-Qarra, Sami Suleiman al-Madani and Hussam Suleiman al-Madani.
Ministry of Health Spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra added that nine Palestinians of one family were killed and sixteen others were injured in shelling targeting al-Farra family house in Khan Younis.
Ashraf al-Qidra identified them as Abdulmalik Abdulsalam al-Farra, 54, his son Usama Abdulmalik al-Farra, 34, Imad Abdulhafiz al-Farra, 28, Awatef Izz al-Din al-Farra, 29, Muhammad Mahmoud al-Farra, 12, Lujain Bassem al-Farra, 4, Yara Abdulsalam al-Farra , 8, and Nadine Mahmoud al-Farra and later Abdulrahman al-Farra, 8, was pronounced dead when he succumbed to wounds he sustained during the shelling.
Medics said Samih Kamal Abu al-Khair, 63, was killed and five others were injured during shelling at Khan Younis city.
15 Palestinians were injured in Israeli shelling at al-Zaytoun in southern Gaza City while Israeli shelling targeted eastern al-Shujaiyya, Jabaliya refugee camp, eastern Khan Younis and several other shells targeted al-Nafaq Street in central Gaza City.
Israeli warplanes also destroyed the house of Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Mabhouh,, who was killed earlier in Jabaliya.
A Palestinian was injured in shelling targeting Kutkut family house in al-Faluja in Jabaliya, and three others were injured in shelling targeting a motorcycle in al-Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in western Gaza City.
Medics in Gaza - tired and overwhelmed
On Thursday, a group of 24 doctors and scientists signed an open letter that was published in the Lancet Medical Journal in Great Britain, in support of the people of Gaza.
The letter reads as follows:
An open letter for the people in Gaza
Paola Manduca, Iain Chalmers b, Derek Summerfield c, Mads Gilbert d, Swee Ang e, on behalf of 24 signatories
We are doctors and scientists, who spend our lives developing means to care and protect health and lives. We are also informed people; we teach the ethics of our professions, together with the knowledge and practice of it. We all have worked in and known the situation of Gaza for years.
On the basis of our ethics and practice, we are denouncing what we witness in the aggression of Gaza by Israel.
We ask our colleagues, old and young professionals, to denounce this Israeli aggression. We challenge the perversity of a propaganda that justifies the creation of an emergency to masquerade a massacre, a so-called “defensive aggression”. In reality it is a ruthless assault of unlimited duration, extent, and intensity. We wish to report the facts as we see them and their implications on the lives of the people.
We are appalled by the military onslaught on civilians in Gaza under the guise of punishing terrorists. This is the third large scale military assault on Gaza since 2008. Each time the death toll is borne mainly by innocent people in Gaza, especially women and children under the unacceptable pretext of Israel eradicating political parties and resistance to the occupation and siege they impose.
This action also terrifies those who are not directly hit, and wounds the soul, mind, and resilience of the young generation. Our condemnation and disgust are further compounded by the denial and prohibition for Gaza to receive external help and supplies to alleviate the dire circumstances.
The blockade on Gaza has tightened further since last year and this has worsened the toll on Gaza's population. In Gaza, people suffer from hunger, thirst, pollution, shortage of medicines, electricity, and any means to get an income, not only by being bombed and shelled. Power crisis, gasoline shortage, water and food scarcity, sewage outflow and ever decreasing resources are disasters caused directly and indirectly by the siege.1
People in Gaza are resisting this aggression because they want a better and normal life and, even while crying in sorrow, pain, and terror, they reject a temporary truce that does not provide a real chance for a better future. A voice under the attacks in Gaza is that of Um Al Ramlawi who speaks for all in Gaza: “They are killing us all anyway—either a slow death by the siege, or a fast one by military attacks. We have nothing left to lose—we must fight for our rights, or die trying.”2
Gaza has been blockaded by sea and land since 2006. Any individual of Gaza, including fishermen venturing beyond 3 nautical miles of the coast of Gaza, face being shot by the Israeli Navy. No one from Gaza can leave from the only two checkpoints, Erez or Rafah, without special permission from the Israelis and the Egyptians, which is hard to come by for many, if not impossible. People in Gaza are unable to go abroad to study, work, visit families, or do business. Wounded and sick people cannot leave easily to get specialised treatment outside Gaza. Entries of food and medicines into Gaza have been restricted and many essential items for survival are prohibited.3 Before the present assault, medical stock items in Gaza were already at an all time low because of the blockade.3 They have run out now. Likewise, Gaza is unable to export its produce. Agriculture has been severely impaired by the imposition of a buffer zone, and agricultural products cannot be exported due to the blockade. 80% of Gaza's population is dependent on food rations from the UN.
Much of Gaza's buildings and infrastructure had been destroyed during Operation Cast Lead, 2008—09, and building materials have been blockaded so that schools, homes, and institutions cannot be properly rebuilt. Factories destroyed by bombardment have rarely been rebuilt adding unemployment to destitution.
Despite the difficult conditions, the people of Gaza and their political leaders have recently moved to resolve their conflicts “without arms and harm” through the process of reconciliation between factions, their leadership renouncing titles and positions, so that a unity government can be formed abolishing the divisive factional politics operating since 2007. This reconciliation, although accepted by many in the international community, was rejected by Israel. The present Israeli attacks stop this chance of political unity between Gaza and the West Bank and single out a part of the Palestinian society by destroying the lives of people of Gaza. Under the pretext of eliminating terrorism, Israel is trying to destroy the growing Palestinian unity. Among other lies, it is stated that civilians in Gaza are hostages of Hamas whereas the truth is that the Gaza Strip is sealed by the Israelis and Egyptians.
Gaza has been bombed continuously for the past 14 days followed now by invasion on land by tanks and thousands of Israeli troops. More than 60 000 civilians from Northern Gaza were ordered to leave their homes. These internally displaced people have nowhere to go since Central and Southern Gaza are also subjected to heavy artillery bombardment. The whole of Gaza is under attack. The only shelters in Gaza are the schools of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), uncertain shelters already targeted during Cast Lead, killing many.
According to Gaza Ministry of Health and UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA),1 as of July 21, 149 of the 558 killed in Gaza and 1100 of the 3504 wounded are children. Those buried under the rubble are not counted yet. As we write, the BBC reports of the bombing of another hospital, hitting the intensive care unit and operating theatres, with deaths of patients and staff. There are now fears for the main hospital Al Shifa. Moreover, most people are psychologically traumatised in Gaza. Anyone older than 6 years has already lived through their third military assault by Israel.
The massacre in Gaza spares no one, and includes the disabled and sick in hospitals, children playing on the beach or on the roof top, with a large majority of non-combatants. Hospitals, clinics, ambulances, mosques, schools, and press buildings have all been attacked, with thousands of private homes bombed, clearly directing fire to target whole families killing them within their homes, depriving families of their homes by chasing them out a few minutes before destruction. An entire area was destroyed on July 20, leaving thousands of displaced people homeless, beside wounding hundreds and killing at least 70—this is way beyond the purpose of finding tunnels. None of these are military objectives. These attacks aim to terrorise, wound the soul and the body of the people, and make their life impossible in the future, as well as also demolishing their homes and prohibiting the means to rebuild.
Weaponry known to cause long-term damages on health of the whole population are used; particularly non fragmentation weaponry and hard-head bombs.4, 5 We witnessed targeted weaponry used indiscriminately and on children and we constantly see that so-called intelligent weapons fail to be precise, unless they are deliberately used to destroy innocent lives.
We denounce the myth propagated by Israel that the aggression is done caring about saving civilian lives and children's wellbeing.
Israel's behaviour has insulted our humanity, intelligence, and dignity as well as our professional ethics and efforts. Even those of us who want to go and help are unable to reach Gaza due to the blockade.
This “defensive aggression” of unlimited duration, extent, and intensity must be stopped.
Additionally, should the use of gas be further confirmed, this is unequivocally a war crime for which, before anything else, high sanctions will have to be taken immediately on Israel with cessation of any trade and collaborative agreements with Europe.
As we write, other massacres and threats to the medical personnel in emergency services and denial of entry for international humanitarian convoys are reported.6 We as scientists and doctors cannot keep silent while this crime against humanity continues. We urge readers not to be silent too. Gaza trapped under siege, is being killed by one of the world's largest and most sophisticated modern military machines. The land is poisoned by weapon debris, with consequences for future generations. If those of us capable of speaking up fail to do so and take a stand against this war crime, we are also complicit in the destruction of the lives and homes of 1·8 million people in Gaza.
We register with dismay that only 5% of our Israeli academic colleagues signed an appeal to their government to stop the military operation against Gaza. We are tempted to conclude that with the exception of this 5%, the rest of the Israeli academics are complicit in the massacre and destruction of Gaza. We also see the complicity of our countries in Europe and North America in this massacre and the impotence once again of the international institutions and organisations to stop this massacre.
On Thursday, a group of 24 doctors and scientists signed an open letter that was published in the Lancet Medical Journal in Great Britain, in support of the people of Gaza.
The letter reads as follows:
An open letter for the people in Gaza
Paola Manduca, Iain Chalmers b, Derek Summerfield c, Mads Gilbert d, Swee Ang e, on behalf of 24 signatories
We are doctors and scientists, who spend our lives developing means to care and protect health and lives. We are also informed people; we teach the ethics of our professions, together with the knowledge and practice of it. We all have worked in and known the situation of Gaza for years.
On the basis of our ethics and practice, we are denouncing what we witness in the aggression of Gaza by Israel.
We ask our colleagues, old and young professionals, to denounce this Israeli aggression. We challenge the perversity of a propaganda that justifies the creation of an emergency to masquerade a massacre, a so-called “defensive aggression”. In reality it is a ruthless assault of unlimited duration, extent, and intensity. We wish to report the facts as we see them and their implications on the lives of the people.
We are appalled by the military onslaught on civilians in Gaza under the guise of punishing terrorists. This is the third large scale military assault on Gaza since 2008. Each time the death toll is borne mainly by innocent people in Gaza, especially women and children under the unacceptable pretext of Israel eradicating political parties and resistance to the occupation and siege they impose.
This action also terrifies those who are not directly hit, and wounds the soul, mind, and resilience of the young generation. Our condemnation and disgust are further compounded by the denial and prohibition for Gaza to receive external help and supplies to alleviate the dire circumstances.
The blockade on Gaza has tightened further since last year and this has worsened the toll on Gaza's population. In Gaza, people suffer from hunger, thirst, pollution, shortage of medicines, electricity, and any means to get an income, not only by being bombed and shelled. Power crisis, gasoline shortage, water and food scarcity, sewage outflow and ever decreasing resources are disasters caused directly and indirectly by the siege.1
People in Gaza are resisting this aggression because they want a better and normal life and, even while crying in sorrow, pain, and terror, they reject a temporary truce that does not provide a real chance for a better future. A voice under the attacks in Gaza is that of Um Al Ramlawi who speaks for all in Gaza: “They are killing us all anyway—either a slow death by the siege, or a fast one by military attacks. We have nothing left to lose—we must fight for our rights, or die trying.”2
Gaza has been blockaded by sea and land since 2006. Any individual of Gaza, including fishermen venturing beyond 3 nautical miles of the coast of Gaza, face being shot by the Israeli Navy. No one from Gaza can leave from the only two checkpoints, Erez or Rafah, without special permission from the Israelis and the Egyptians, which is hard to come by for many, if not impossible. People in Gaza are unable to go abroad to study, work, visit families, or do business. Wounded and sick people cannot leave easily to get specialised treatment outside Gaza. Entries of food and medicines into Gaza have been restricted and many essential items for survival are prohibited.3 Before the present assault, medical stock items in Gaza were already at an all time low because of the blockade.3 They have run out now. Likewise, Gaza is unable to export its produce. Agriculture has been severely impaired by the imposition of a buffer zone, and agricultural products cannot be exported due to the blockade. 80% of Gaza's population is dependent on food rations from the UN.
Much of Gaza's buildings and infrastructure had been destroyed during Operation Cast Lead, 2008—09, and building materials have been blockaded so that schools, homes, and institutions cannot be properly rebuilt. Factories destroyed by bombardment have rarely been rebuilt adding unemployment to destitution.
Despite the difficult conditions, the people of Gaza and their political leaders have recently moved to resolve their conflicts “without arms and harm” through the process of reconciliation between factions, their leadership renouncing titles and positions, so that a unity government can be formed abolishing the divisive factional politics operating since 2007. This reconciliation, although accepted by many in the international community, was rejected by Israel. The present Israeli attacks stop this chance of political unity between Gaza and the West Bank and single out a part of the Palestinian society by destroying the lives of people of Gaza. Under the pretext of eliminating terrorism, Israel is trying to destroy the growing Palestinian unity. Among other lies, it is stated that civilians in Gaza are hostages of Hamas whereas the truth is that the Gaza Strip is sealed by the Israelis and Egyptians.
Gaza has been bombed continuously for the past 14 days followed now by invasion on land by tanks and thousands of Israeli troops. More than 60 000 civilians from Northern Gaza were ordered to leave their homes. These internally displaced people have nowhere to go since Central and Southern Gaza are also subjected to heavy artillery bombardment. The whole of Gaza is under attack. The only shelters in Gaza are the schools of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), uncertain shelters already targeted during Cast Lead, killing many.
According to Gaza Ministry of Health and UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA),1 as of July 21, 149 of the 558 killed in Gaza and 1100 of the 3504 wounded are children. Those buried under the rubble are not counted yet. As we write, the BBC reports of the bombing of another hospital, hitting the intensive care unit and operating theatres, with deaths of patients and staff. There are now fears for the main hospital Al Shifa. Moreover, most people are psychologically traumatised in Gaza. Anyone older than 6 years has already lived through their third military assault by Israel.
The massacre in Gaza spares no one, and includes the disabled and sick in hospitals, children playing on the beach or on the roof top, with a large majority of non-combatants. Hospitals, clinics, ambulances, mosques, schools, and press buildings have all been attacked, with thousands of private homes bombed, clearly directing fire to target whole families killing them within their homes, depriving families of their homes by chasing them out a few minutes before destruction. An entire area was destroyed on July 20, leaving thousands of displaced people homeless, beside wounding hundreds and killing at least 70—this is way beyond the purpose of finding tunnels. None of these are military objectives. These attacks aim to terrorise, wound the soul and the body of the people, and make their life impossible in the future, as well as also demolishing their homes and prohibiting the means to rebuild.
Weaponry known to cause long-term damages on health of the whole population are used; particularly non fragmentation weaponry and hard-head bombs.4, 5 We witnessed targeted weaponry used indiscriminately and on children and we constantly see that so-called intelligent weapons fail to be precise, unless they are deliberately used to destroy innocent lives.
We denounce the myth propagated by Israel that the aggression is done caring about saving civilian lives and children's wellbeing.
Israel's behaviour has insulted our humanity, intelligence, and dignity as well as our professional ethics and efforts. Even those of us who want to go and help are unable to reach Gaza due to the blockade.
This “defensive aggression” of unlimited duration, extent, and intensity must be stopped.
Additionally, should the use of gas be further confirmed, this is unequivocally a war crime for which, before anything else, high sanctions will have to be taken immediately on Israel with cessation of any trade and collaborative agreements with Europe.
As we write, other massacres and threats to the medical personnel in emergency services and denial of entry for international humanitarian convoys are reported.6 We as scientists and doctors cannot keep silent while this crime against humanity continues. We urge readers not to be silent too. Gaza trapped under siege, is being killed by one of the world's largest and most sophisticated modern military machines. The land is poisoned by weapon debris, with consequences for future generations. If those of us capable of speaking up fail to do so and take a stand against this war crime, we are also complicit in the destruction of the lives and homes of 1·8 million people in Gaza.
We register with dismay that only 5% of our Israeli academic colleagues signed an appeal to their government to stop the military operation against Gaza. We are tempted to conclude that with the exception of this 5%, the rest of the Israeli academics are complicit in the massacre and destruction of Gaza. We also see the complicity of our countries in Europe and North America in this massacre and the impotence once again of the international institutions and organisations to stop this massacre.
Republican representatives in the US Senate have blocked a Democratic party proposal of a multi-million dollar defense aid package to Israel.
The $2.7 billion border aid package would have included $225 million, proposed by US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, for the Israeli military's Iron Dome defense system.
“We’ve all watched as the tiny state of Israel, who is with us on everything, they have had in the last three weeks 3,000 rockets filed into their country,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, in an apparent attempt to appeal to Republicans' longstanding partiality to the state of Israel's demands.
“Our number one ally -- at least in my mind -- is under attack. If this isn’t an emergency I don’t know anything that is,” said Reid, according to a quote by Politico.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was quoted to say: “It’s an important moment for the Senate and the House to show support for Israel. All I can say that if you don’t see the need to come to Israel’s aid now, and the message that it would send now, it would be a big mistake.
“Any person who thinks that the Iron Dome is unnecessary needs to go to the floor and tell us why, why we don’t need to help Israel right now. They’re asking for our help, they’re our best friend in the region, one of our best friends in the world.”
Though Republican leaders had recently promised to pass a bill directing further aid to Israel, Reid’s request was rejected, on the grounds that it would increase the national debt.
See also: As Atrocities Mount in Gaza, US Approves Israeli Request for More Bombs
US Senate Unanimously Passes Resolution Supporting Israeli Assault on Gaza
Defense Expert: Iron Dome is a Bluff
The $2.7 billion border aid package would have included $225 million, proposed by US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, for the Israeli military's Iron Dome defense system.
“We’ve all watched as the tiny state of Israel, who is with us on everything, they have had in the last three weeks 3,000 rockets filed into their country,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, in an apparent attempt to appeal to Republicans' longstanding partiality to the state of Israel's demands.
“Our number one ally -- at least in my mind -- is under attack. If this isn’t an emergency I don’t know anything that is,” said Reid, according to a quote by Politico.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was quoted to say: “It’s an important moment for the Senate and the House to show support for Israel. All I can say that if you don’t see the need to come to Israel’s aid now, and the message that it would send now, it would be a big mistake.
“Any person who thinks that the Iron Dome is unnecessary needs to go to the floor and tell us why, why we don’t need to help Israel right now. They’re asking for our help, they’re our best friend in the region, one of our best friends in the world.”
Though Republican leaders had recently promised to pass a bill directing further aid to Israel, Reid’s request was rejected, on the grounds that it would increase the national debt.
See also: As Atrocities Mount in Gaza, US Approves Israeli Request for More Bombs
US Senate Unanimously Passes Resolution Supporting Israeli Assault on Gaza
Defense Expert: Iron Dome is a Bluff
Surgery in the corridors
Gaza hospitals are operating under impossible conditions, with surgery now being performed in corridors and on the floor due to the sheer numbers of wounded from massacres such as Shati park, UNRWA school and Shujeiyah market.
Lack of theatre space sees two persons being operated on at a time in the same theatre, while others receive surgical interventions in the corridors.
Even beds are in such short supply that surgeons are forced to undertake complicated procedures while their patients lie on stretchers on the floor.
There is nowhere to send the patients post-operatively, with Shifa ICU full, and no vacant beds in surgical wards. Some surgical cases have been sent to maternity and internal medicine hospitals, and to other hospitals outside Shifa medical complex.
Despite 30 patients being ready for discharge, they literally have nowhere to go. These 30 beds are desperately needed.
Wards are full to overflowing, with patients lying on mattresses in the corridors. It has deteriorated to the extent that patients have even been sharing beds, and others are being discharged prematurely.
In many cases no patient notes are being recorded contemporaneously or files created because the staff just cannot take the time away from treating the high volume of patients. Some details are being recorded afterwards, but this is less than ideal.
These conditions are a recipe for disaster.
Infection control is well-nigh impossible, and post-operative complications including death will be inevitable.
Deaths are already occurring from a lack of timely treatment, as the numbers of patients far exceed the capacity of the staff. We estimate that we have a 50% shortfall in staff numbers to deal with the case loads presenting for treatment, resulting in some patients receiving suboptimal care and others receiving none at all.
Current staff are as overburdened as the facilities they serve, working without pay for 24 hours on a day-on, day-off roster. All surgeons and surgical staff have been recalled, to cope with the sheer numbers. They are suffering enormous stress, not only from lack of rest, the horrendous injuries they are dealing with and the under-resourced conditions under which they work, but also due to constant fear for their families, and fear of attack as hospitals have increasingly become targets of Israeli fire.
The Ministry of Health Gaza calls for:
The UN, ICRC and other international NGOs to provide as a matter of urgency safe and hygienic shelters for the discharge of displaced patients to free up desperately-needed hospital beds;
the borders to be opened immediately to enable the entry of urgently-required medical teams and equipment to alleviate the workloads; and
the international community to take immediate and concrete action to reign in the unfettered Israeli war crimes in Gaza.
Gaza hospitals are operating under impossible conditions, with surgery now being performed in corridors and on the floor due to the sheer numbers of wounded from massacres such as Shati park, UNRWA school and Shujeiyah market.
Lack of theatre space sees two persons being operated on at a time in the same theatre, while others receive surgical interventions in the corridors.
Even beds are in such short supply that surgeons are forced to undertake complicated procedures while their patients lie on stretchers on the floor.
There is nowhere to send the patients post-operatively, with Shifa ICU full, and no vacant beds in surgical wards. Some surgical cases have been sent to maternity and internal medicine hospitals, and to other hospitals outside Shifa medical complex.
Despite 30 patients being ready for discharge, they literally have nowhere to go. These 30 beds are desperately needed.
Wards are full to overflowing, with patients lying on mattresses in the corridors. It has deteriorated to the extent that patients have even been sharing beds, and others are being discharged prematurely.
In many cases no patient notes are being recorded contemporaneously or files created because the staff just cannot take the time away from treating the high volume of patients. Some details are being recorded afterwards, but this is less than ideal.
These conditions are a recipe for disaster.
Infection control is well-nigh impossible, and post-operative complications including death will be inevitable.
Deaths are already occurring from a lack of timely treatment, as the numbers of patients far exceed the capacity of the staff. We estimate that we have a 50% shortfall in staff numbers to deal with the case loads presenting for treatment, resulting in some patients receiving suboptimal care and others receiving none at all.
Current staff are as overburdened as the facilities they serve, working without pay for 24 hours on a day-on, day-off roster. All surgeons and surgical staff have been recalled, to cope with the sheer numbers. They are suffering enormous stress, not only from lack of rest, the horrendous injuries they are dealing with and the under-resourced conditions under which they work, but also due to constant fear for their families, and fear of attack as hospitals have increasingly become targets of Israeli fire.
The Ministry of Health Gaza calls for:
The UN, ICRC and other international NGOs to provide as a matter of urgency safe and hygienic shelters for the discharge of displaced patients to free up desperately-needed hospital beds;
the borders to be opened immediately to enable the entry of urgently-required medical teams and equipment to alleviate the workloads; and
the international community to take immediate and concrete action to reign in the unfettered Israeli war crimes in Gaza.
Wounded Palestinians In Khan Younis
The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza has reported that eight members of the al-Farra family have been killed, in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, while at least ten have been injured.
Six more killed in ongoing Israeli strikes, and two Palestinians died of earlier injuries suffered in Khan Younis.
The Ministry said an Israeli missile struck a home belonging to the al-Farra family, in Khan Younis killing eight, including three children, and wounding more than ten Palestinians. The slain family members have been identified as:
1. Abdul-Malek Abdul-Salam al-Farra, 58, Khan Younis.
2. Osama Abdul-Malek al-Farra, 34, Khan Younis.
3. Emad Abdul-Hafeth al-Farra, 28, Khan Younis.
4. Awatef Ezzeddin al-Farra, 29, Khan Younis.
5. Mohammad Mahmoud al-Farra, 12, Khan Younis.
6. Lojein Bassem al-Farra, 4, Khan Younis.
7. Yara Abdul-Salam al-Farra, 8, Khan Younis.
8. Nadine Mahmoud al-Farra, Khan Younis.
Six more Palestinians have also been killed by Israeli missiles striking their homes, in Khan Younis. They have been identified as:
9. Abdullah Awad al-Breem, Khan Younis.
10. Mohammad Suleiman al-Breem, Khan Younis.
11. Maisoun Ra’fat al-Breem, Khan Younis.
12. Raed Abdul-Latif al-Qarra, Khan Younis.
13. Sami Suleiman al-Madani, Khan Younis.
14. Husam Suleiman al-Madani, Khan Younis.
Also in Khan Younis, two Palestinians died, at a local hospital, of serious injuries suffered after the army bombarded their homes in earlier strikes, while many Palestinians have been injured, some seriously. The slain Palestinians have been identified as:
15. Ahmad Salim Abdin, Khan Younis.
16. Mohammad Ahmad Hamad, Khan Younis.
Many Palestinians have also been injured in a recent Israeli bombardment of the Zietoun neighborhood in Gaza city.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza said the army committed massacres against entire families in the Gaza Strip, since Tel Aviv initiated the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza on July 8, killing more than 580 members of different families and wounding at least 1000.
It added that %40 of the Palestinians killed in this aggression are families, while %12 (1424) of the total number of wounded Palestinians are from those families killed by Israel.
Israeli missiles and shelled have killed more than 1455 Palestinians since July 8, while more than 8350 have been injured, dozens facing life-threatening injuries, and clinically dead.
Many slain Palestinians are still believed to be under the rubble of bombarded homes and residential towers, especially since rescue teams are frequently subject to Israeli army fire, and denied access to various bombarded areas.
The claimed temporary ceasefire in Gaza is supposed to begin at eight in the morning, Friday, but the army is intensifying its bombarded of densely populated civilian areas killing and wounding dozens of Palestinians, a trend seen every time, hours or even minutes, before any temporary ceasefire starts.
Just an hour before the ceasefire was supposed to start, last Saturday morning, the army killed eighteen members of the Najjar family in Khan Younis.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza has reported that eight members of the al-Farra family have been killed, in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, while at least ten have been injured.
Six more killed in ongoing Israeli strikes, and two Palestinians died of earlier injuries suffered in Khan Younis.
The Ministry said an Israeli missile struck a home belonging to the al-Farra family, in Khan Younis killing eight, including three children, and wounding more than ten Palestinians. The slain family members have been identified as:
1. Abdul-Malek Abdul-Salam al-Farra, 58, Khan Younis.
2. Osama Abdul-Malek al-Farra, 34, Khan Younis.
3. Emad Abdul-Hafeth al-Farra, 28, Khan Younis.
4. Awatef Ezzeddin al-Farra, 29, Khan Younis.
5. Mohammad Mahmoud al-Farra, 12, Khan Younis.
6. Lojein Bassem al-Farra, 4, Khan Younis.
7. Yara Abdul-Salam al-Farra, 8, Khan Younis.
8. Nadine Mahmoud al-Farra, Khan Younis.
Six more Palestinians have also been killed by Israeli missiles striking their homes, in Khan Younis. They have been identified as:
9. Abdullah Awad al-Breem, Khan Younis.
10. Mohammad Suleiman al-Breem, Khan Younis.
11. Maisoun Ra’fat al-Breem, Khan Younis.
12. Raed Abdul-Latif al-Qarra, Khan Younis.
13. Sami Suleiman al-Madani, Khan Younis.
14. Husam Suleiman al-Madani, Khan Younis.
Also in Khan Younis, two Palestinians died, at a local hospital, of serious injuries suffered after the army bombarded their homes in earlier strikes, while many Palestinians have been injured, some seriously. The slain Palestinians have been identified as:
15. Ahmad Salim Abdin, Khan Younis.
16. Mohammad Ahmad Hamad, Khan Younis.
Many Palestinians have also been injured in a recent Israeli bombardment of the Zietoun neighborhood in Gaza city.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza said the army committed massacres against entire families in the Gaza Strip, since Tel Aviv initiated the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza on July 8, killing more than 580 members of different families and wounding at least 1000.
It added that %40 of the Palestinians killed in this aggression are families, while %12 (1424) of the total number of wounded Palestinians are from those families killed by Israel.
Israeli missiles and shelled have killed more than 1455 Palestinians since July 8, while more than 8350 have been injured, dozens facing life-threatening injuries, and clinically dead.
Many slain Palestinians are still believed to be under the rubble of bombarded homes and residential towers, especially since rescue teams are frequently subject to Israeli army fire, and denied access to various bombarded areas.
The claimed temporary ceasefire in Gaza is supposed to begin at eight in the morning, Friday, but the army is intensifying its bombarded of densely populated civilian areas killing and wounding dozens of Palestinians, a trend seen every time, hours or even minutes, before any temporary ceasefire starts.
Just an hour before the ceasefire was supposed to start, last Saturday morning, the army killed eighteen members of the Najjar family in Khan Younis.
About 170,000 people who fled their homes are sheltering in crowded
school buildings, with serious shortages of water, food and shelter.
Even schools are not safe - at least 123 have been damaged by shelling
so far. Oxfam is delivering safe water to over
Oxfam Delivers Water to Families Sheltering from Gaza Violence
More than 240,000 people have now fled their homes, but have nowhere safe to go. With exit through Israel closed under the long-term blockade, and the border with Egypt shut, most people are prevented from escaping the violence.
The past few days have been the deadliest yet in Gaza, with civilians -- including women and children -- making up the vast majority of casualties and, on average, one child being killed every hour in Gaza.
Rockets continue to be fired from Gaza into Israel.
People have been warned to leave nearly half of Gaza's small territory as airstrikes intensify.
However, with bombing and fighting taking place across all of Gaza, there is simply nowhere safe for people to go to. Thousands of displaced families are sheltering in school buildings, although at least 133 schools have been damaged by Israeli shelling in the past three weeks.
Um Mohammed Al Azazma, a mother of eight, told Oxfam: "Everyone was running and scared while carrying their children and the tank shells falling around us. I had to jump over dead bodies in the streets. The schools were full and we ended up in a church. My children are scared and we try to convince ourselves that we are in a safe place, but there is no safe place in Gaza right now. The only thing we need is to be safe in our homes."
Conditions in the schools are becoming increasingly desperate, with clean water, food and shelter running perilously low. Oxfam is trucking vital supplies of safe water to 40,000 people sheltering in schools, a church and a mosque.
Oxfam is also delivering water to Al Shifa hospital, which has seen a massive influx of civilian casualties in the past few days, including many women and children. Hospitals and health facilities, including Al Shifa, have themselves been hit and seriously damaged. Oxfam strongly condemns all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.
"The terrible toll on civilians is shocking. Hospitals and water supplies are under massive strain and the needs are increasing by the day. People are fleeing terrified.
Normally, in crises like this, we would see an exodus of people escaping the violence but, in Gaza, there is no safe place for them to go.
For years the blockade has prevented most people from leaving Gaza, restricted trade and devastated the economy. Lasting peace and security for both sides means ending the blockade and the collective punishment of people in Gaza," said Nishant Pandey, head of Oxfam in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel.
Damage to water and electricity systems has disrupted the supply of water to 1.8 million people. Destruction of sanitation plants risks raw sewage contaminating the water and increasing the risk of disease.
Only half of Gaza's sewage plants are now working. Most of Gaza is now only receiving power for two hours a day or less.
The ongoing violence and intensive airstrikes makes it extremely difficult and dangerous to deliver aid to people, despite the growing needs. Many Oxfam staff and partners have themselves been affected by the violence and have had to leave their homes.
Oxfam condemns violence against civilians by all sides, including Israeli military actions and Palestinian rocket fire. We urge the international community to do much more to push for a lasting ceasefire that ends the blockade and addresses the root causes of the conflict.
Oxfam Delivers Water to Families Sheltering from Gaza Violence
More than 240,000 people have now fled their homes, but have nowhere safe to go. With exit through Israel closed under the long-term blockade, and the border with Egypt shut, most people are prevented from escaping the violence.
The past few days have been the deadliest yet in Gaza, with civilians -- including women and children -- making up the vast majority of casualties and, on average, one child being killed every hour in Gaza.
Rockets continue to be fired from Gaza into Israel.
People have been warned to leave nearly half of Gaza's small territory as airstrikes intensify.
However, with bombing and fighting taking place across all of Gaza, there is simply nowhere safe for people to go to. Thousands of displaced families are sheltering in school buildings, although at least 133 schools have been damaged by Israeli shelling in the past three weeks.
Um Mohammed Al Azazma, a mother of eight, told Oxfam: "Everyone was running and scared while carrying their children and the tank shells falling around us. I had to jump over dead bodies in the streets. The schools were full and we ended up in a church. My children are scared and we try to convince ourselves that we are in a safe place, but there is no safe place in Gaza right now. The only thing we need is to be safe in our homes."
Conditions in the schools are becoming increasingly desperate, with clean water, food and shelter running perilously low. Oxfam is trucking vital supplies of safe water to 40,000 people sheltering in schools, a church and a mosque.
Oxfam is also delivering water to Al Shifa hospital, which has seen a massive influx of civilian casualties in the past few days, including many women and children. Hospitals and health facilities, including Al Shifa, have themselves been hit and seriously damaged. Oxfam strongly condemns all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.
"The terrible toll on civilians is shocking. Hospitals and water supplies are under massive strain and the needs are increasing by the day. People are fleeing terrified.
Normally, in crises like this, we would see an exodus of people escaping the violence but, in Gaza, there is no safe place for them to go.
For years the blockade has prevented most people from leaving Gaza, restricted trade and devastated the economy. Lasting peace and security for both sides means ending the blockade and the collective punishment of people in Gaza," said Nishant Pandey, head of Oxfam in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel.
Damage to water and electricity systems has disrupted the supply of water to 1.8 million people. Destruction of sanitation plants risks raw sewage contaminating the water and increasing the risk of disease.
Only half of Gaza's sewage plants are now working. Most of Gaza is now only receiving power for two hours a day or less.
The ongoing violence and intensive airstrikes makes it extremely difficult and dangerous to deliver aid to people, despite the growing needs. Many Oxfam staff and partners have themselves been affected by the violence and have had to leave their homes.
Oxfam condemns violence against civilians by all sides, including Israeli military actions and Palestinian rocket fire. We urge the international community to do much more to push for a lasting ceasefire that ends the blockade and addresses the root causes of the conflict.
Both the Israeli military and Hamas resistance have reportedly agreed to a 72-hour temporary cessation of military operations within the Gaza Strip.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a joint statement, according to Haaretz, that the ceasefire will begin at 8AM local time (0500 GMT) on Friday, August the 1st.
"We urge all parties to act with restraint until this humanitarian ceasefire begins, and to fully abide by their commitments during the ceasefire," said the statement.
"This ceasefire is critical to giving innocent civilians a much-needed reprieve from violence."
Israeli ground forces are to remain in place during the temporary truce.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a joint statement, according to Haaretz, that the ceasefire will begin at 8AM local time (0500 GMT) on Friday, August the 1st.
"We urge all parties to act with restraint until this humanitarian ceasefire begins, and to fully abide by their commitments during the ceasefire," said the statement.
"This ceasefire is critical to giving innocent civilians a much-needed reprieve from violence."
Israeli ground forces are to remain in place during the temporary truce.
You find the photo's/video's disturbing? Remember, this is what Palestinian children see almost every day
