The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) intensified the military attacks on the Gaza Strip.
IOF has carried out (11) incursions in the Strip since the start of July 2007.
Today, 1 August 2007, IOF killed two Palestinians; thus raising the toll of deaths to 20.
Three were killed in an extra-judicial assassination on 26 July 2007, when 33-year-old Omar El Khatib was targeted.
According Al Mezan's investigations, at approximately 5.
30am today IOF stormed into northern Gaza's town of Beit Lahia from different directions.
They opened fire killing two Palestinians and injuring an adolescent.
Some seven IOF armored vehicles penetrated the outskirts of the former Israeli settlement of Dugit, northwestern Beit Lahia.
A second unit composed of 15 vehicles broke into the Hamdoush neighborhood, north Beit Lahia.
A yet third unit walked into the area of Al Shaima' school and took positions in many points.
Soldiers opened fire and killed two Palestinians: 22-year-old Rajab Sa'ad Muhammad Subeh, and 19-year-old Imad Sulaiman Salah.
In addition, 17-year-old Abdul-Aziz Hamada was injured in the attack.
IOF restricted ambulances' access to the victims.
Despite previous coordination to collect them, they were held for over two hours.
Al Mezan views with much concern the ongoing Israeli military escalation, which has been extremely harmful to the civilian life and property.
Attacks on civilian objects represent a grave breach of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949.
Additionally, IOF's continued restriction of medical teams' access to victims, and targeting them while trying to do so, represents a grave violation of Israel's obligations under IHL.
Al Mezan had documented IOF's destruction of ambulances trying to reach victims during an incursion into middle Gaza in July.
IOF's practices also contravene the internationally accepted human rights standards and must stop.
Al Mezan reiterates its call upon the international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities by providing effective protection for Palestinian civilians and property under Israel's occupation.
Al Mezan calls for prompt international investigation into IOF's conducts, which represent systematic and gross violations of human rights.
Some of these conducts amount to war crimes, as designated by the 4th Geneva Convention and the Rome Statute of the ICC, and must therefore be investigated.
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