The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) launched air strikes on houses in the Gaza Strip, after short-notice warnings for their residents.
Those have caused much damage to houses and terrorized civilians and particularly children.
Further, in an escalation of the IOF offensive in Beit Lahia, 3 Palestinian have been killed, including two children, and 9 others injured, including 4 children.
Those killed were identified as: Said Saleh Hajouj, 24 Tha'ir Hasan Al Masri, 16 Mohammed As Saiyd Abu Jalhoum, 17 According to the Al Mezan's field reports, at approximately 5pm on 17 November 2006, IOF deployed troops and armored vehicles in the Al Thallaja neighborhood and east of the industrial zone in the south of Beit Hanoun town.
Troops seized a house and took positions around the former settlements north of Beit Lahia.
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11:15pm on 16 November 2006, IOF helicopters fired two missiles at the 3-story house of Ala Iqilan, in Al Shati Refugee Camp in Gaza City.
The first floor of the house was damaged, but no causalities were reported.
The IOF notified the residents of the imminent strike some 30 minutes before it took place.
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11:30pm on the same day, IOF helicopters fired a missile at the As Salah Charity, in Al Shajaiya neighborhood east of Gaza City.
The building was partially destroyed and no causalities were reported.
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11:55pm, IOF fighter jets bombarded a three-story building An-Nasser Street in Gaza City.
The building was completely destroyed but no causalities were reported.
In yet another attack, at app.
01:45am, on 17 November 2006, IOF jets bombarded a two-story house owned by Ziad Abu Ajina, which is located opposite to a school in Beit Lahia.
The attack totally destroyed the house and an adjacent house owned by the same family.
The attack also entirely destroyed a Kindergarten and caused partial damages to the School and three adjacent houses.
Additionally, 7 year-old Wasim Bashir Abu Hemeida was injured.
IOF had warned the residents 15 minutes prior the attack.
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights condemns IOF's use of excessive force against Palestinian civilians and civilian objects in the Gaza Strip.
The attacks were punitive and arbitrary in their manner and are prohibited by international humanitarian law, especially the Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Times of War.
The Center stresses that the targeting of civilian houses by fighter jets poses great danger on civilians and causes serious damage to their property, safety and health.
The Center further reiterates its calls upon the international community, especially the High Contracting Parties to the 4th Geneva Convention, to intervene and provide protection to Palestinian civilians and their property in the OPT.
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