Al Mezan condemns escalating IOF offensive against Palestinians; 3 civilians killed, 14 injured, and 2 houses destroyed

In the context of the escalating IOF offensive against Palestinian civilians and property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and in particular the Gaza Strip, three Palestinians have been killed, 14 others wounded, and two houses destroyed.
The IOF entered Khoza'a area, in eastern Khan Younis, and Al Shija'iya neighborhood, in eastern Gaza City, detaining four Palestinians.
Simultaneously, the IOF continue shelling the eastern and northern areas of the Gaza Strip with tank missiles.
The total number of Palestinian victims since the beginning of the IOF military operation "Summer Rain" has reached 193 killed, including 36 children under the age of 18, and 721 injured.
Furthermore, the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip since June 2006 remains in place.
According to Al Mezan field sources, on 22 August at approximately 6:30am, the IOF penetrated 800 meters into Khoza'a town, in eastern Khan Younis, and began bulldozing agricultural land in the area under extensive gunfire cover.
Three Palestinians were wounded, including 12-year old Hanadi Abu Rouk.
In a separate attack on the same day, at approximately 7:00am the IOF killed three Palestinians in al Qarara town of Khan Younis: Saleh Abd Al Ghafour, 26, Said Abd Al Haq Al Farra, 21, and Bassam Yousif Shorrab.
Earlier at approximately 2:30am, 25 military vehicles entered Al Shija'iya neighborhood of Gaza City under helicopter cover and detained four Palestinians, including three brothers, Shaiboub, Antarm and Rajab Hellis, as well as a physically disabled relative, Na'im Hellis.
During the same attack, three other Palestinians were injured as a result of the intense IOF fire.
In line with the IOF policy of destroying civilian houses after informing residents by telephone of the imminent shelling of their homes, on 22 August at approximately 00:20 the IOF shelled the two-storey house of Mansour Ahmed Abu Hmeid, the head of the board of directors of Al Salah Islamic Association in Rafah.
The house was totally destroyed, and was inhabited by 3 families, a total of 14 individuals.
The shelling also resulted in the total destruction of an adjacent house, and severe damage was caused to the building of Al Sallah Association, and five adjacent houses.
The IOF informed the owner of the house by telephone to evacuate the house just 30 minutes prior to the shelling.
The IOF also telephoned the son of the landlord twice before the shelling; the last call was at approximately 00:15.
In a previous incident on 21 August, at approximately 11:15 pm, IOF war jets fired two rockets at the house of Hashem Mohammed Asalia, in eastern Jabalia Refugee camp, totally destroying it, and badly damaging 2 adjacent houses.
Two of Hashem's sons were injured due to the shelling.
One of them jumped from the second floor just seconds before the shelling, as he was collecting the house ownership documents, but the time given to evacuate the house was insufficient so he jumped from the window.
The house comprised two floors, each consisting of two apartments, and was inhabited by 18 individuals, including 9 children.
As in previous attacks, the IOF informed the Asalia family to evacuate their home just 25 minutes before the shelling.
Furthermore, on 20 August, the IOF continued the shelling of areas located in the east of the Gaza Strip, particularly the eastern areas of Al Bureij Refugee Camp, and Deir Al Balah district, injuring six Palestinians, including a child and two farmers.
Al Mezan strongly condemns the ongoing IOF offensive against Palestinian civilians and highlights the IOF intention to inflict as much loss of life and property as possible.
Al Mezan warns that the IOF are committing war crimes in violation of international humanitarian law, notably the Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.
The Centre also confirms that these measures evidence Israel disrespect towards its legal obligations under the Convention.
Al Mezan reaffirms that the silence of the international community has encouraged Israel to commit war crimes against Palestinians.
It also reiterates its demands that the international community must halt Israeli violations and provide international protection to Palestinian civilians and their property in the OPT.
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