The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) escalated its aggression against the Gaza Strip.
Four Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air raid that targeted a police station near the southern Gaza town of Kan Younis.
IOF carried out incursions into the towns of Rafah and Deir Al Balah, and bombarded urban areas.
An Israeli missile hit a house in Jabalia town and caused civilians injuries.
This brings the toll of Palestinians killed by the IOF since the start of October 2007 to 26; including four children, and the wounded to 60; of whom 13 children.
According to the field investigations by Al Mezan, at approximately 9.
40pm on 30 October 2007, an Israeli warplane fired one missile at a police (Executive Force) station in Bani Suhila town, east to Khan Younis town.
The station is located opposite the Al Awda School in the town.
Four policemen were killed, as a result.
Medical sources identified them as: 25-year-old Mahir Shihda Abu Teir; 22-year-old Belal Ibrahim Abu Awwad; 22-year-old Ismail Sulaiman Qudieh; and 20-year-old Mahmoud Jamal Rudwan.
The police station was partially damaged.
At approximately 9pm on 30 October 2007, eight IOF armored vehicles penetrated Rafah town and reached the Gaza International Airport, which is located southeast of the town.
IOF advanced under helicopters cover and opened heavy fire and took control over the area.
No injuries have been reported.
At approximately 6.
05pm on 30 October 2007, IOF fired a ground-to-ground missile from its positions in the eastern borderline north of the Gaza Strip.
It hit a three-story house owned by Abdul-Latif Saleh Rudwan east of Jabalia town.
Six people were injured; among whom five from the house residents and a guest.
According to medical sources, two of the victims have sustained critical wounds.
Among the victims there were two children, two women, and an old man.
They have been identified as: 60-year-old Abdul-Latif Saleh Radwan; 29-year-old Nida' Abdul-Latif Radwan; 70-year-old Zahiya Hassan Radwan; 3-year-old Muhammad Ibrhim Radwan; 30-year-old Osama Al Afifi, and his 1-year-old daughter Shahd.
All of the victims were injured from shrapnel to different parties of their bodies.
The nearby house of Imad Muhammad Salah was partially damaged in this incident.
Earlier, at approximately 6.
45am on the same day , the IOF stationed on the eastern borderline north the Gaza Strip fired a ground-to-ground missile that landed in an open area east Jabalia Refugee Camp.
No injures were reported.
At approximately 8.
20pm on 30 October 2007, seven IOF armored vehicles entered Wadi As-Salqa village, east of Deir Al Balah town though the borderline.
Eyewitnesses reported that soldiers broke into their homes.
IOF have still been in the area by the time of issuing this press release.
This IOF aggression comes in line with the tightened closure of the Gaza Strip.
Gazans have been severely deprived from their right to free movement and access.
About 1,000 Palestinians have been stranded on the Egyptian side of Rafah Crossing in difficult conditions.
They are not allowed to return to their home due to the continued closure of the Crossing since 9 June 2007.
Moreover, about 5,000 visitors, students, workers and patients have not been able to leave it.
Their right to free movement as well as the rights to family life, education, work, and health have been violated.
Additionally, the IOF continue to restrict the flow of goods into Gaza.
Only a limited list of basic goods and humanitarian aid are allowed to pass through in quantities that fail to meet the population's needs.
These restrictions exacerbate the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Added to this is the reduction of the fuel supplies allowed to enter Gaza.
Al Mezan reported serious cuts of over 50% in diesel and benzene supplies, while the quantities of diesel used for the operation of the power plant and of cooking gas returned to their previous averages.
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights condemns the acts of killing by IOF, which employed disproportionate, excessive and indiscriminate force in urban areas.
The Center condemns the escalation of the collective punishment by tightening the closure.
Al Mezan asserts that such conducts represent breaches of International Humanitarian Law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Times of War.
This necessitates an immediate intervention from the part of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention to insure its respect by Israel.
Al Mezan calls upon the international community, and especially the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention, to immediately intervene to stop the Israel grave breaches and provide international protection for civilian in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Collective punishment and targeting civilians must not be allowed to go unchecked or continue.
END