The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) military attacks on the Gaza Strip continued into the sixth day of Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge'.
IOF's airstrikes continued to target houses and other civilian objects with heavy bombs and missiles.
In a serious escalation of the attacks on civilians, a disabled NGO building was attacked by the IOF, killing two disabled women and injuring four women; three of whom are disabled.
An IOF attack targeted a mosque last night and left multiple casualties.
Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights strongly condemns the IOF's attacks on civilians and civilian objects and calls on international community to act swiftly to stop them.
As of 1pm today, Saturday 12 July 2014, the number of Palestinian casualties resulted from IOF attacks, and verified by the Al Mezan, has risen to 128; including 24 children and 18 women.
According to Al Mezan's initial investigations 91 of the victims are civilians.
The rest are known to be affiliated with Palestinian factions, but in most of the cases there is no information that suggests they were taking active part in any hostilities.
Most of them were killed in attacks on civilian targets.
Moreover, at least 780 other people were injured during the same period; of whom 218 were children and 180 women.
635 houses were destroyed or damaged during this period; of which 176 were destroyed completely as the IOF directly and deliberately attacked 172 of them.
IOF attacks also damaged or destroyed 19 schools, 22 mosques, an ambulance centre, 13 NGO offices, 22 fishing boats and a hospital.
According to information gathered by Al Mezan, at approximately 4:42am today an IOF warplane fired a missile at the building of the Mebarat Palestine for the Disabled in Beit Lahiya own in the North Gaza district.
This NGO cares for people with severe, compound disability.
As a result, two disabled women were killed: Soha Abu Sa'da, 38; and Ola Wishahi, 31.
Another four people were injured from shrapnel; three of whom are disabled and one carer who works at the NGO.
They were identified as: Ahmad Al A'war, 26; (disabled) Mai Hamada, 31; (disabled) Sali Saqer, 19; (disabled) and Salwa Abu Al Qomsan; (carer).
[Mebarat Palestine after attack, Photo: Al Mezan] They sustained wounds from shrapnel to different parts of their bodies and hospital sources informed Al Mezan that their conditions were critical.
Moreover, the building which hosts the NGO was totally destroyed in the attack.
The two-story building is owned by Alaa' Al 'Aklouk, and its second floor is not rented.
Al Mezan spoke with Mrs.
Jamila 'Iliwa, the president of the NGO, who said that the NGO provides various services for people with severe disability; including shelter, and that there were 19 disabled people staying in it when the Israeli military operation started; however, 14 of them left it for the Friday weekend holiday.
She added that the NGO continued to provide its services despite several attacks on empty field not far from it.
She said that a few minutes before the attack she was informed that the IOF fired a missile at the area; however, she believed it was another attack on the area.
'No one expected an direct attack on the building; nothing in or around the building would justify such an attack on us', she informed Al Mezan.
Al Mezan asserts that attacks on obvious civilian targets, such as the Mebarat Palestine, mosques and inhabited houses represent serious violations of international law.
These attacks and the military aggression must be condemned and their perpetrators prosecuted.
Hundreds of the IOF's attacks fail to observe the principles of distinction and proportionality and have caused severe harm to civilian life and property in the Gaza Strip.
Those attacks, particularly those which involve dropping of tons of explosives on houses and other civilian structures, indicate the persistent Israeli disrespect of international humanitarian law.
Moreover, firing missiles on houses as a means of warning and giving civilians minutes to evacuate their homes before their entire lives evaporate before them, and has frequently taken many lives, cannot be justified.
Al Mezan calls on international community to act to stop attacks on civilians.
International community must intervene to ensure that the attacks on houses, mosques, and especially the disabled NGO building, are investigated and prosecuted as per the standards provided by international law.
Al Mezan also urges international community; especially the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to act swiftly and resolutely to provide effective protection for the civilian population under Israeli attack in the Gaza Strip.
END