IOF Attack Fighter and Palestinian Houses during Incursion into Gaza; Al Mezan: the IOF Continue to Violate International Law and Using Flechettes Aims to Cause More Causalities

In an Israeli incursion to the northeast of Beit Hanoun town in North Gaza district, Israeli tanks fired four tank shells at approximately 3:54pm on Wednesday 21 July 2010.
Two of the shells fell near a pool in the Al-Basha orchard.
The other two fell on houses in the end of the Al Masri road in the town.
As a result, the fighter; called Mohammed Hatem Sabri Al Kafarna, 23, was killed.
He was in the northeast of the Al Basha orchard, some 300 meters from the closest house, when he was killed.
A civilian, Kasim Mohammed Kamal Al Shinbari, 20, a passerby, sustained critical injuries from shrapnel and died at approximately 6:40pm, at the Shifa Hospital.
Seven other civilians were injured in the attack; four of whom were children.
Al Mezan identified their names as follows: ·         Baraa' Rajab, 8, who was injured in the head; ·         Ibrahim Wesam Al Masri, 6, was injured by a shrapnel in the back; ·         Mohammed 'Azzam Al Masri, 9, was injured by a shrapnel and his left hand was broken; ·         Samah 'Eid Al Masri, 9; was injured by a shrapnel in the chest; ·         Mrs.
Shadia Al Kafarna, 35, was injured in the head; ·         Haitham Tha'er Qasem, 26, was injured by a shrapnel in the face; ·         Mohammed Az-Za'anien, 30, was injured in the knee; and ·         Emad Taha Al Kafarna, 37, was injured by shrapnel in the right hand.
According to Beit Hanoun Hospital their injures ranged between light and moderate.
In his affidavit to Al Mezan, Dr.
Jameel Mohammed Suliman Ali, director of the Beit Hanoun Hospital, said: 'the Flechette used by the IOF spread hundreds of darts in the vicinity of the area and this caused the injuries of civilians and children who were in the Al Masri road.
' According to other eyewitnesses, one of the flechettes hit the wall over the roof of a house belonging to Jawdat Abdel Latif Ahmed Al Masri, which is located at the end of the Al Masri road.
Hundreds of darts spread in the area and several civilians including children were injured.
They were injured while they were in the street.
According to Al Mezan's field investigations, this flechette exploded and part of it penetrated the southern and western walls and then moved towards other houses in the town, as the Al Masri neighborhood is higher than the other neighborhoods in the middle and the west of the town.
This part of the flechette fell at the house of Kareem Sabri Ramadan Al Kafarna, which is located in Khalil Al Wazeer Street.
The fourth flechette hit the house of Ahmed Yousif Abu 'Ammsha, which is also located in the Khalil Al Wazeer Street, near the Beit Hanoun Park.
It penetrated walls in the south and the west of the house and hit other neighboring houses.
As a result, five houses were partially damaged.
  This attack occurred as,at approximately 11:20am on Wednesday 21 July 2010, ten Israeli tanks moved into the north of the Gaza Strip and advanced for about 450 meters.
  Al Mezan Center for Human Rights expresses its strong condemnation of the IOF escalation and continuous incursions into the Gaza Strip.
Al Mezan also condemns the IOF’s attacks against Palestinian residential areas using flechette bombs, which was confirmed by the Al Mezan's field investigations (please see the attached photo).
This can only suggest an intent to employ excessive force and ammunition which cause excessive damage to civilian life and property.
Some of these shells were fired directly at homes, far from the incursion or any fighting.
  Therefore, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights calls on the international community to promptly intervene to stop the continuous Israeli violations of international humanitarian law and the international human rights law in the Gaza Strip.
Al Mezan also calls on the international community to exert pressure on Israel to stop its violations, particularly the deliberate attacks against civilians, which seem to follow the same patterns that have been frequently condemned as grave breaches of international law.
Al Mezan views the continued prevalence of ensuring impunity for Israeli commanders and troops who violate international law, and the silence of the international community, as serving to only encourage committing more violations.
  Ends