The Israeli Occupation Forces' (IOF) offensive against Gaza has continued.
Four Palestinians, including three children, were killed Friday, raising to 56 the number of Palestinians killed since the recent offensive commenced on 15 May 2007.
In addition, 207 Palestinians have been injured; 71 homes destroyed or damaged; 47security and commercial facilities and 13 vehicles destroyed.
According to the Center's field investigations; Israeli helicopter gunships shelled various areas in North Gaza District.
IOF also fired artillery shells toward the areas adjacent to the border with Israel.
Troops extended the incursions near the Ash-Shuhada Cemetery, east of Jabalia, and As Syafa area, northwest of Beit Lahia, and in the eastern parts of the town of Beit Hanoun.
At approximately 12.
45am Friday 1 June 2007, helicopter gunships fired a missile at an open area east of Beit Lahia.
No casualties or damages were reported.
At 9am, hospital sources announced the death of 17-year-old (and disabled) Hamza Ameen Al Masri.
Hamza sustained critical wounds when IOF fired an artillery shell that hit his house in Beit Lahia at approximately 10.
25pm Sunday 20 May 2007.
The shell directly hit the children's room in the Al Masris' house and left the father and five children injured.
In a separate attack, a special Israeli force opened fire at four children who were trying to collect their kite near Beit Lahia beach.
Two of these children were killed a result.
According to the Center's investigations, the two children were identified as Ahmed Sabri Soliman Abu Zbeida, and Zaher Mohammed Al Majdalawi, both of whom were 14-years-old.
Additionally, 16-year-old Mohammed Ibrahim Al Atawna was injured in his back and detained for one day by the IOF.
A fourth boy fled the site unharmed.
Evidence suggests that these children may have been killed deliberately as they were in an open area at the beach in which the IOF had the clear ability to identify them.
At approximately 8.
30pm on 1 June 2007, an IOF warplane fired a missile at Fadi Abdul-Qadir Abu Mustafa, aged 23, as he was riding a motorcycle in As-Satar Al-Gharbi area north of Khan Younis.
Abu Mustafa, who was known as affiliated with the Islamic Jihad, was killed and his motorcycle was destroyed.
At approximately 12.
30am on 2 June 2007, the IOF broke into the eastern parts of Al Maghazi refugee camp and searched several houses.
They arrested Sulaiman Riziq Abu Mandil, aged 34, and his three brothers Awwad, aged 30, Mahmoud, aged 26, and Naji, aged 22.
They were then released at 12.
30am on the same day after interrogation.
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights renews its strong condemnation of the IOF's escalating violence against Gaza.
The Center condemns the IOF's use of excessive force against civilians, especially children, without necessity or discrimination, as grave breaches of international humanitarian law (IHL), which amount to war crimes.
The IOF's continued attacks on densely-populated civilian areas has caused severe loss of life and property.
While Israel insists that it retaliates to home-made rocket attacks on Gaza, IHL requires that it observes the principles necessity, proportionality and discrimination, and to end its occupation and systematic violations of human rights.
The Center asserts that the repercussions of IOF's military operations on civilians has been dire.
The recent offensive has coincided with the final year exams at schools.
Civilians living near the border and in those areas where IOF has carried out incursions endure severe restrictions on their movement and farmers have been denied access to their farms for over two weeks now.
Al Mezan also condemns the reckless killing of the two children, Abu Zbeida and Al Majdalawi, who were playing near their neighborhood and were killed in an open area where troops had clear sight.
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