The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights condemns Israel’s continued  military escalation against the Gaza Strip after Israeli aircraft launched a series of heavy aerial attacks throughout.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) also opened fire at areas near the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, targeting civilian houses and fields.
The Israeli authorities also tightened the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip, reducing the fishing zone to three nautical miles from the already reduced former six.
  The Israeli authorities informed the Palestinian Administration of Fishery, through the Coordination Office, about the reduction in the permitted fishing zone off of the coast of the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli authorities stated that from 11:00 am on Sunday, 7 July 2014, the fishermen would only be permitted to access three nautical miles.
It should be noted that the Oslo Accords entitle the Palestinian fishermen to twenty nautical miles, which was frequently reduced and has been limited to six miles during the past months.
  According to Al Mezan’s field investigations, at approximately 5:45 pm on Friday, 4 July 2014, IOF opened fire at the farmer Abdel Aziz Abu Mandil, 30, while he was on his farm to the east of Al Msddar village in the Middle Gaza district.
As a result, he sustained an injury to his abdomen.
According to eyewitnesses, Abdel Aziz and one of his relatives were in their farm, which is located 300 meters from the separation fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, when the IOF opened fire at them.
According to Abdel Aziz’s relatives, Abdel Aiziz has been paralyzed from the injury.
  In the early morning hours on Friday, 4 July 2014, IOF launched 14 aerial strikes on the Gaza Strip, including on security grounds.
  As a result, one person sustained a moderate injury and eight houses were damaged.
    Al Mezan reiterates its strong condemnation of the continued Israeli attacks and tightened closure and naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Al Mezan asserts that the silence of the international community has allowed Israel to continue attacks that violate the rights of the Palestinian civilian population and contravene the principles of International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law.
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Within the current setting, where Israel is escalating a provocative and inciting campaign against the Palestinian population, these circumstances could lead to a grave violation of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip   Therefore, Al Mezan reiterates its call on the international community to promptly intervene to bring to a halt Israel’s unlawful attacks on the occupied Palestinian territory, to provide protection for civilians, and to work towards implementing accountability mechanisms for Israel’s grave violations of international law.
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