Offensive on Gaza for 47th Consecutive Day

Israel Forces Continue Their Offensive on Gaza for 47th Consecutive Day;

• 20 Palestinians, 16 of Whom Are Civilians, Including 6 Children, Killed and 49 Others, Including 11 Children and 7 Women Wounded;

• Victims Include 5 Civilians, Including Child, Who Were Digging Grave for Victim of Israeli Offensive;

• 8 Houses and Factory Destroyed

Since the Beginning of the Israeli Offensive:
• 2,106 Palestinians, 1,618 of Whom Are Civilians, Including 500 Children and 287 Women, Killed, and 10,430 Others, Mostly Civilians, Including 3,160 Children and 2,018 Women, Wounded;

• 875 Houses Targeted and Destroyed by Israeli Warplanes;

• Thousands of Houses Destroyed Completely or Partially by Israeli Shelling;

• Thousands of Palestinian Families Resort to Humanitarian Shelters

Israeli occupation forces have continued their brutal and immoral offensive on the Gaza Strip for the 47thconsecutive day in violation of the international law. They have employed their full-fledged arsenal to attack the Gaza Strip from the air, sea and land, killing and wounding thousands of Palestinians, mostly civilians, including children and women. Many Palestinians have been killed by Israeli airstrikes that attacked their homes without prior warnings. Israeli forces have attacked homes and civilian facilities and property. On Thursday evening, 21 August 2014, Israeli forces continued attacks on Palestinian civilians and property. They attacked more houses and civilian gatherings. As a result of these attacks, 20 Palestinians, 16 of whom are civilians, including 6 children, were killed. The victims include 5 civilians, including a child, who were attacked and killed while they were digging a grave for a victim of the Israeli offensive. Additionally, 49 Palestinians, including 11 children and 7 women, were wounded, and 8 houses and factory of concrete were destroyed. Humanitarian shelters throughout the Gaza Strip are over-crowded as thousands of Palestinian civilians have resorted to them. According to UNRWA's statistics, the number of displaced civilians has amounted to at least 240,000. Most areas in the Gaza Strip lack water and electricity services due to the ongoing offensive.

The latest developments from 10:00 (07:00 GMT) on Thursday, 21 August 2014, to 10:00 on Friday, 22 August 2014, have been as follows:

The Northern Gaza Strip:

Israeli warplanes launched a number of airstrikes targeting houses, agricultural plots and open areas. As a result of these attacks, 18 Palestinians, including 4 children and 2 women, were wounded. Additionally, 4 houses were targeted and destroyed, and a number of others were damaged.

The most significant attacks were as follows:

- At approximately 13:20 on Thursday, 21 August 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a 2-storey house belonging to Fayeq Abu Sitta in al-Manshiya Street in Beit Lahia. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it. A child was wounded.

- At approximately 14:10, an Israeli drone fired 2 missiles at a 4-storey house belonging to Maher Edwan, chief of Beit Hanoun police station, in Zimmu Street in Beit Hanoun. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.

- At approximately 16:30, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at an agricultural plot in Sheikh Ahmed Yassin Street in Beit Hanoun. A Palestinian civilian was wounded.

- At approximately 17:05, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a house belonging to Lutfi Hamad in al-Qaraman Street in Beit Hanoun. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.

- At approximately 07:00 on Friday, 22 August 2014, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a 3-storey house belonging to Mohammed 'Ali Tayeh in Jabalya and destroyed it. Before the attack, Israeli forces phoned the family and order evacuation of the house.

Gaza City:

Israeli warplanes launched a number of airstrikes targeting a house, a cemetery and a car. As a result of these attacks, 7 Palestinians were killed, including 5 civilians, one of whom is a child, who were attacked and killed while they were digging a grave for a victim of the Israeli offensive. A child died of a previous wound and medical crews recovered the body of a child of Mohammed al-Daif, the leader of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas), from the debris of a house belonging to the al-Dalu family, which was destroyed 2 years ago. Israeli warplanes also targeted a house that has been already attacked and destroyed it.

The most significant attacks were as follows:

- At approximately 11:20 on Thursday 21 August 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a number of Palestinian civilians who were digging a grave for a victim of the Israeli offensive in Sheikh Radwan Cemetery in the north of Gaza City. As a result, 5 civilians, including a child, were killed: Rami and Mohammed Hamdi Abu Nahel, 20 and 17 respectively; Awsam Talal Tafesh, 43; 'Abdul Rahim Talal al-Shwaikh, 21; and Salem Ismail Abu Ghadayen, 28.

- At approximately 12:00, the body of Sara Mohammed al-Daif, 2, the child of Mohammed al-Daif, the leader of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, was recovered by medical crews from the debris of a house belonging to the al-Dalu family in Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, which was destroyed by Israeli warplanes on Tuesday, 19 August 2014.

- At approximately 12:40, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a civilian car that was traveling near Steps Mall in al-Nasser neighborhood in the north of Gaza City. As a result, 2 members of a Palestinian armed group.

- At approximately 21:00, medical sources declared that Ra'ed Ahmed Khatar, 5, died of a wound he had sustained when Israeli warplane bombarded a tract of land near his house in al-Zaytoun neighborhood, 19 August 2014.

- At approximately 23:15, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a house belonging to the Shamallakh family in Sheikh 'Ejlin neighborhood and destroyed it. The house had been already attacked by Israeli warplanes.

The Central Gaza Strip:

Israeli warplanes launched 12 airstrikes targeting houses, agricultural plots and a factory. As a result of these attacks, 5 Palestinians, 3 of whom are civilians, including a child, were killed, and 19 others, including 5 women and 2 children, were wounded. Three houses and a factory of concrete were also destroyed.

The most significant attacks were as follows:

- At approximately 11:50 on Thursday, 21 August 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a 2-storey house belonging to 'Abdullah Mahmoud Ghunaim, in which 9 people live, in al-Nussairat refugee camp. Half an hour later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it. A number of nearby houses were damaged.

- At approximately 13:00, medical sources declared that Iman Younis al-Louh, 17, died of a wound he had sustained on 20 August 2014 in Deir al-Balah.

- At approximately 15:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at Ibrahim Ra'ed Baraka, 45, who was walking in the street nearly 100 meters away from his house in Deir al-Balah. He and 3 other civilians, including an old woman, were wounded. Baraka died of his wound 3 hours later.

- At approximately 22:50, an Israeli drone fired 32 missiles at the yard of a house belonging to Basheer Ahmed Abu Shraitah, 26, in al-Masha'la neighborhood in Deir al-Balah. As a result, Abu Shraitah and his nephew, Tal'at Ahmed Abu Shraitah, 13, were killed, and 2 other members of the family were wounded.

- At approximately 04:30 on Friday, 22 August 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a 2-storey house belonging to Ahmed Mahmoud Baroud, in which 9 people live, in al-Nussairat refugee camp. Half n hour later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it. A number of nearby houses were damaged.

- At approximately 17:25, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a Cooperation Factory of Concrete at Saladin Street to the east of al-Zawaida village. The factory and a vehicle of concrete were destroyed.

- At approximately 06:10, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to Shaldan Slman al-Najjar, in which 9 people live, in Deir al-Balah. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it. A number of nearby houses were damaged.

- At approximately 07:30, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at 2 members of a Palestinian armed group who were in a farm in the east of al-Zawaida village, killing both of them.

Khan Yunis:

Israeli warplanes launched 13 airstrikes targeting houses, agricultural plots and a motorcycle. As a result of these attacks, a Palestinian civilian was killed, and 3 others were wounded. Israeli warplanes targeted and destroyed a house while another house was destroyed when a nearby greenhouse was bombarded.

The most significant attacks were as follows:

- At approximately 12:15 on Thursday, 21 August 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a motorcycle on which 2 Palestinian civilians were traveling in Ma'an area in the south of Khan Yunis. As a result, both civilians were wounded, and one of whom, Hamdan Salem Abu Hadayed, 44, died of his wound half an hour later.

- At approximately 14:10, Israeli warplanes launched 3 airstrikes on agricultural plots in Ma'an area in the south of Khan Yunis. A number of nearby houses were damaged.

- At approximately 16:55, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at an open area in al-Zanna area, east of Khan Yunis.

- At approximately 18:20, an Israeli warplane launched 2 missile at an open area to the west of al-Amal neighborhood. A Palestinian civilian was wounded.

- At approximately 118:40, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a water tank belonging to the al-Farra family in Bani Suhaila village, east of Khan Yunis. A Palestinian civilian was wounded.

- At approximately 011:55 on Friday, 22 August 2014, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a greenhouse in al-Sikka Street in al-Satar al-Gharbi area. As a result, the greenhouse and a nearby house belonging to Hisham 'Ouda al-Astal were destroyed.

- At approximately 07:05, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at an agricultural plot in Abu Sorour Street in Bani Suhaila village. No casualties were reported.

- At approximately 07:50, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to Amjad Suleiman Shubair, in which 5 people live, in al-Fukhari village, southeast of Khan Yunis. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.

Rafah:

Israeli warplanes launched 18 airstrikes on Rafah targeting 2 office buildings, agricultural plots, open areas and a motorcycle. As a result of these attacks, 3 Palestinian civilians were killed, and 9 others, including 2 children, were wounded. A child also died of a previous wound.

The most significant attacks were as follows:

- At approximately 10:45 on Thursday, 21 August 2014, an Israeli warplane launched 2 missiles at an agricultural plot in al-Shouka village, southeast of Rafah.

- At approximately 11:00, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the destroyed Gaza International Airport in the southeast of Rafah.

- At approximately 11:15, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the destroyed Gaza International Airport in the southeast of Rafah.

- At approximately 12:55, Israeli forces fired a number of artillery shells at Palestinian houses and agricultural lands near the destroyed Gaza International Airport in the southeast of Rafah.

- At approximately 14:00, Israeli warplanes launched 3 missiles at the destroyed Gaza International Airport in the southeast of Rafah.

- At approximately 15:00, medical sources at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis declared that Saba Rami Younis, 4, died of wound she had sustained 12 hours earlier when Israeli warplane bombarded a house belonging to the Killab family in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of Rafah. Ten Palestinians, including the child's grandfather and his wide, 24 members of the Killab family, a woman and 3 leader of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, were killed in the attack.

- At approximately 18:40, an Israeli drone fired 2 missiles at a motorcycle that was traveling near the taxi parking zone in the center of Rafah. As a result, 2 Palestinian civilians who were traveling on it were killed: Ibrahim 'Essam Hammad, 23; and Marwan Ibrahim Abu Shallouf, 22. Nine bystanders, including 2 children, were also wounded.

- At approximately 21:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at 'Abdul Rahman Sa'ad Shallouf, 31, when he was walking in al-Zbaidiyaa neighborhood in the southeast of Rafah. he was instantly killed.

- At approximately 21:45, Israeli warplanes launched 3 airstrikes on an agricultural plot in Tabbet Zare' neighborhood in the northeast of Rafah.

- From 00:00 to 02:00 on Friday, 22 August 2014, Israeli gunboats fired a number of shells at Rafah beach.

- At approximately 02:30, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a building belonging to Mohammed Salah Qishta opposite to Rafah Municipality. Two hours later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the building and destroyed it partially.

- At the at the same time, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a building belonging to the al-Ashi family opposite to Rafah Municipality. Two hours later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the building and destroyed it partially. The building of Rafah Municipality was also damaged.

- At approximately 03:45, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at an agricultural plot belonging to the al-Sha'er family in al-Salam neighborhood in the south of Rafah.

PCHR reiterates condemnation, expresses utmost concern for these crimes, and:

1) Calls upon the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to promptly visit the Gaza Strip, to fulfill her responsibilities to stop this barbaric offensive and to closely watch the systematic destruction caused and deliberate targeting of Palestinian civilians and property protected under the international law;

2) Calls upon the UN Human Rights Council to accelerate the formation of the fact-finding mission as decided by the Council in the resolution taken in its special session that was held on 23 July 2014 to investigate violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law in the occupied Palestinian territory without any delay related to bureaucratic restrictions and procedures;

3) Calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their contractual obligations not only to respect the Convention, but also ensure respect for the Convention, and to immediately intervene to stop war crimes committed by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians, and calls upon the Swiss Government, the depository of the Geneva Conventions, to call for a new conference of the High Contracting Parties as soon as possible;

4) Stresses that holding war criminals accountable is an essential condition for any future settlement, and the international community should confirm that no impunity for war criminals, and the achievement of peace is conditioned by respect for human rights and the international law, and prosecution of war criminals;

5) Calls upon the Palestinian leadership to immediately accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which will provide opportunities to prosecute Israeli war criminals before the Court;

6) Stresses that the Gaza Strip is a disaster area and there is an urgent need to treat the disastrous humanitarian situation resulting from deliberate Israeli attacks on the civilian infrastructure, including electricity, water, hospitals, shelters and houses, forcible displacement of more than 500,000 civilians ad systematic and mass destruction of civilian communities;

7) Calls upon the international community to intervene to stop the policies of collective punishment and left the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip for more than seven years, allowing the freedom of movement and goods, away from artificial improvements which have contributed to institutionalizing and prolonging the closure.

ENDS

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