Israeli air strikes on Gaza injure child and adult

Israeli air strikes on Gaza injure child and adult

By Leslie Bravery | 5 April 2014

After a period of 20 consecutive days in which no Palestinian missiles had been launched from Gaza towards Israel, the firing of four rockets, which caused no death or injuries, was met almost immediately with a series of Israeli air strikes that injured and hospitalised an 18-month-old child and an adult. The Israeli blitz damaged homes, shops and a warehouse. The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) reported that Israeli F-16 jet fighters fired a missile into the Abu Jarad area in the south of Gaza City and also into several areas of Palestinian farmland. The two casualties were admitted to the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Eyewitnesses said Israeli F-16s and Apache helicopter gunships also carried out menacing low-altitude flights over people's homes in different parts of the besieged Gaza Strip.

During the 20-day period in which no Palestinian missiles had been fired towards Israel there were 11 live-fire Israeli Navy attacks on Palestinian fishing boats, both at sea and on shore. The Israeli Navy wounded four fishermen and set fire to a Palestinian fisherman’s shack. The Israeli Navy also continued to enforce an economically crippling three-nautical-mile fishing limit on Gaza fishermen – as it does, of course, on every day of the year.

During the same period, the Israeli Army carried out 11 attacks on the Gaza Strip, including shelling by Israeli tanks. The Israeli Army opened fire on Palestinian farmland on nine occasions, killing livestock and targeting farm workers, peaceful protesters, a refugee camp and a village. During those 20 days the Israeli Army also made an incursion, shooting its way onto Gaza farmland and bulldozing crops. Israeli Army violence during the period resulted in three people being wounded – one of them was a 16-year-old youth. Another 16-year-old youngster was abducted by the Israeli Army for trying to escape Israel's blockade – as were two other people. In addition, more Palestinians in Gaza were overcome by Israeli tear gas.

In summary, Israel carried out violent attacks on Palestinians in Gaza on ten of the 20 days in which no missiles were fired from the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Navy and Army between them carried out a total of 21 attacks on the people of Gaza, committed many acts of agricultural sabotage and enforced a cruel fishing limit on each of the past 20 days. There were no Israeli casualties.

Twenty days of Palestinian forbearance have been, unsurprisingly, ignored by Israel and the balance and timing of violence over the Gaza Strip demonstrate, once again and clearly, where the responsibility lies. The Palestinian people have no hope of defence against overwhelming and determined Israeli military superiority. The occupied and blockaded population of Gaza can only look to the world community, as is their right, to bring pressure upon Israel to stop imposing its blockade against a captive population.

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