Israel continues its aggression against the Gaza Strip as the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) mount an escalation of targets on Tuesday, 11 March 2014. The escalation in violence comes amidst continued Israeli closure and siege of the Gaza Strip and daily attacks against civilians in the access restricted areas (ARA), or buffer zone. Al Mezan condemns the Israeli closure and military escalation and calls on the international community to intervene to protect residents of the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).
At approximately 7:00 am on Tuesday, 11 March 2014, a number of Israeli tanks accompanied by armored bulldozers moved under sporadic covering fire to about 200 meters into the Gaza Strip, east of Khuza’a village in the east of the district Khan Younis. The IOF then moved south to the Al Fukhari area and the southern parts of Rafah. Israeli bulldozers leveled lands that had been frequently razed before. At approximately 11:30 am on the same day, the IOF withdrew.
At approximately 11:30 am on Tuesday 11 March 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a group of Palestinians who were in an agricultural field in An-Nasser village north of Rafah. As a result, three Palestinians were killed and one person was injured. Medical sources at Gaza European Hospital in Khan Younis described the injury as moderate.
Al Mezan has identified the fatalities as follows:
Ismail Hamed Abed Abu Jouda, 22;
Abdel Shafi Salah Abu Mu’ammar, 33; and
Shaher Hammoda Mahmoud Abu Shanab, 23.
All of them are residents of An-Nasser village. One of the Palestinian factions announced that the people killed were affiliates of their group.
Since the beginning of 2014, the IOF has killed 11 people in the Gaza Strip, including one child and one woman. In 2014, the IOF also injured 81 people, including 16 children and three women. Further, the IOF arrested 25 people, including four children and six fishermen off of the coast of Gaza. It’s worth noting that four of the people killed and 61 of those injured were in the ARA.
The Israeli escalation indicates further deterioration in the human rights and humanitarian situations. Within the context of Israeli closure of the Gaza Strip, the IOF prevents patients from reaching hospitals outside of Gaza for much needed treatment that is not available in the Gaza Strip. Reportedly, there are often attempts by Israeli authorities to pressure patients into collaborating with authorities; attempts often include blackmail and at times ill-treatment. On Monday, a female patient, Asia Al Sharatha, 27, died after the Israeli authorities prevented her access to a hospital in the West Bank for urgent medical treatment.
The Israeli escalation on Tuesday further indicates fresh deterioration of the human rights and humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Amidst the ongoing Israeli siege the Israeli escalation in violence, the lives and wellbeing of the population in Gaza are at a daily risk by land and sea. Al Mezan condemns the the killing and injury of civilians and the denial of Palestinian access to basic rights under international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Al Mezan warns that the violations are being carried out under immunity for the violators of international law.
Al Mezan reiterates its call on the international community to promptly intervene and to uphold its moral and legal obligations towards civilians in the oPt. Al Mezan also calls on the international community to respect its legal obligation under international law and to pursue violators of international human rights law.