Time: 1:00 pm   The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) continued to escalate their aggression against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip from the late hours of Tuesday 24 October 2012 up to the time this press release was published on Wednesday 25 October 2012.
According to documentation by the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, during this period the IOF killed four and injured nine, including two women.
64 schools, including five UNRWA schools, suspended work for the second consecutive day.
  Al Mezan’s field workers monitored and documented these attacks, which took place chronologically as follows, starting with the most recent incident:   ·         At approximately 9:40 pm on Tuesday 23 October 2012, IOF fired a missile at a group of young Palestinian men who were in a farm east of As-Salatten area in BeitLahiya, in North Gaza district.
As a result, Ismail Issa At-Talli, 27, was killed and four other persons were injured.
Electricity was cut off due to the attack.
·         At approximately 9:00 am on Wednesday 24 October 2012, medical sources at Shifa Hospital announced the death of Yousif Mahmoud Jalhoum, 28, from his wounds.
·         At approximately 11:55 pm on Tuesday 23 October 2012, an Israeli aircraft fired a missile at a group of young Palestinian men who were in a farm north of Mu’ab Bin Omaier mosque in BeitLahiya, in North Gaza district.
As a result, Lu’ai Abdel Hakeem Abu Jarad, 25, was killed and two other persons were injured.
Medical sources at Kamal Odwan Hospital described the injury of one of them as critical and referred him to Shifa Hospital.
·         At approximately 5:10 am on Wednesday 24 October 2012, Israeli aircraft fired two missiles targeting a motorcycle travelling on a side street in Ash-Shoka village east of Rafah town.
As a result, Mohammed Jaber Sha’ban Ash-Sheikh, 22, was killed and Ahmed Fawzi Mohammed Herzallah, 24, was injured.
He was referred to Gaza European Hospital in Khan Younis where his injury was described as critical.
  ·         At approximately 7:15 am on Wednesday 24 October 2012, IOF fired a missile fell near the police guard room at the entrance of Erez crossing.
As a result, officerHasanHarbSaleh Abu Habel, 25, was injured.
Medical sources at Kamal Odwan Hospital described his injury as critical.
He sustained shrapnel wound that entered his back and stabled in the chest.
He was referred him to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
The Palestinian policemen left the area immediately.
The IOF closed the crossing except for humanitarian cases.
  ·         According to Al Mezan’s field investigations, 12 patients and their escorts and five businessmen were at the Palestinian the liaison office when the attack took place and were allowed to travel after long hours of delay.
  ·         At approximately 7:30 am on Wednesday 24 October 2012, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) fired several artillery shells and opened sporadic fire at Al Qarrara, Abassan, and Khuza’a villages east of Khan Younis.
The firing continued for several hours.
As a result, two women were injured.
Medical sources described their injury as minor.
Six schools suspended work due to the attacks and firing.
·         At approximately 8:00 am on the same day, Israeli tanks accompanied by armored bulldozers moved under sporadic covering fire about 300 meters into the east of Khuza’a village east of Khan Younis.
The bulldozers leveled lands that had been frequently razed before.
The firing lasted for about 30 minutes.
As a result studying at six schools located near the separation fence was suspended.
These schools are: Abbasan Primary Boys’ School, Abbasan Primary Girls’ School, Khuza’a Secondary Boys’ School, Khuza’a Secondary Girls’ School, and Al Ma’ari Primary Girls’ School.
    As a result of the continuous Israeli attacks, studying at 64 schools which are located in risk areas near the “Access Restricted Areas” was suspended.
This negatively affects the educational process.
The sound of the deep explosions also affected the psychology of the students and their understanding capacities.
  The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights strongly condemns the new Israeli escalation which killed four and injured seven.
Al Mezan also condemns the ongoing attacks which prevented 33, 157 students from studying, including 3,537 UNRWA students.
  Al Mezan expresses its concern of the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip which comes amidst threats to escalate the aggression on Gaza Strip.
Al Mezandeplores the silence of the international community and its failure to uphold its legal and moral obligations towards civilians.
The IOF systematically violates international humanitarian law and the international community fails to take effective measures to end the immunity system and implement the accountability principle.
  The international community also fails to completely lift the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip as a step towards ending the occupation of the Palestinian territory.
Therefore, Al Mezan calls on the international community to end its silence policy and to promptly intervene to prevent the Israel from further escaltion.
Al Mezan asserts that to prevent Israel from further escalation will be less costly than dealing with its humanitarian, political, and legal consequences.
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