Today at about 2:00 a.
m.
, the belligerent Israeli Occupation Forces shelled a steel factory located in at-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza city.
Eyewitnesses told al-Mezan’s field worker that two Israeli assault helicopters fired about 8 missiles at the factory, which is owned by Sa’dy Ibraheem al-‘ashiy, and opened fire from large caliber machine guns on both the factory and surrounding areas.
It is worth mentioning that, yesterday, Israeli Forces positioned at al-Matahin military checkpoint south of Khan Younis arrested Al-‘ ashiy while on the way for business purposes.
The shelling resulted in total destruction of the factory as well as its contents.
In addition it resulted in heavy damage of a number of houses and factories/ workshops located near the steel factory.
Moreover, a number of civilian Palestinians, who were asleep inside their houses at the time of shelling, suffered from panic attacks.
A number of them were transferred to Shifa hospital for treatment.
Following is a list of the houses and workshops damaged by the shelling.
Details include name of the owner, description of the premise, number of family members, and extent of damage.
Nabeel Yousif Mohammed az-Zaharnah, a 3- story house, 9, damage of a number of the house’s windows.
Sa’eed Hasan Salih Ridhwan, a 3- story house, 15, damage of a number of the house’s windows.
Hatim Kamal Salama al-Ay, a 3- story house, 26, damage of a number of the house’s windows.
Adeeb Mohammed Ramadhan ash-Shurafa, a 4- story house, 8, damage of a number of the house’s windows.
Ibraheem Mohammed Ramadhan ash-Shurafa, a 2- story house, 9, damage of a number of the house’s windows.
Khalid Ali Abd al- Hady Abu Sharar, a 4- story house, 23, damage of a number of the house’s windows.
Nayif Mahmoud Ibraheem adh- Dhabbah, a house and a workshop for repair of air pumps, destruction of a number of asbestos- roof planks and damage of some of the contents of the house and workshop.
The front windscreen of a BMW- 1983 car owned by adh- Dhabbah was also damaged.
 Saleem Ahmad Mahmoud ad- Draimly, a marble factory, Cracking of the walls with complete destruction of the wall that separates the factory from the target (the steel factory), damage of a number of metal- roof planks, and destruction of some of the machines and equipment.
Abd al-Hakeem Mousa al-Ghifary, a store house for sanitary supplies, Cracking of the walls, damage of a number of metal- roof planks, and destruction of some of the sanitary supplies.
Today, 21/5/2001, the belligerent Israeli Occupation Forces opened fire on two civilian Palestinians near the borderline that separates Israel from the Gaza Strip, east of al-Bureij refugee camp.
As a result both of them were killed.
They were: Ahmad al-Ajamy, 25 years old, resident of al-Bureij refugee camp.
Hamdy Abu Khousa, 45 years old, resident of al-Bureij refugee camp.
Till this time, the belligerent Israeli Occupation Forces have refused to hand over the dead bodies to the Palestinian National Authority.
Also this morning, Israeli military tanks positioned in Nitsareem Jewish settlement heavily shelled al-Mughraqah neighborhood, south to Gaza city, with heavy artillery.
In the light of the current situation, where the belligerent Israeli Occupation Forces have been targeting both the Palestinian citizens and their property, Al-Mezan center for human rights warns from the continuing of the Israeli crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and requests the following: The International Community must immediately provide protection for the Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
In this context, the UN Security Council is requested to immediately send a team of International Human Rights Observers to the Occupied Palestinian Territories in to monitor the Israeli crimes against the Palestinian civilians.
The European Union, which will hold a meeting (later this month), to revise its Partnership Agreement with Israel, should cancel this agreement.
The High Contracting Parties of the 4th Geneva Convention must immediately hold a conference to discuss ways that guarantee The application of the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
The fulfillment of the legal obligations implied by the Convention by the Parties.
 END