Al Mezan is concerned about the recent escalation of IOF aggression against Palestinians, which has killed three civilians and injured three others.
The total number of Palestinians killed since the beginning of Israeli military operation "Summer Rain" has reached 185, including 37 children under the age of 18 and 17 females.
Further, the IOF maintains the closure of Rafah terminal which is preventing Palestinians from traveling.
According to Al Mezan field investigations, on 14 August at approximately 8:20 am IOF fired a missile on a group of civilians gathering near the School of Agriculture in eastern Beit Hanoun, killing three and injuring three others with pieces of shrapnel.
The victims are: Othman Hasan Al Bo'a, 55 Zohair Shahada Al Kafarna, 17 Ahmed Yousif Ashour, 18 Husam Othman Al Bo'a, 17 Mo'awia Jacob Al Kafarna, 29 Bilal Ahmed Al Kafarna, 15 According to medical reports, the 15 year-old sustained serious injuries.
Al Mezan asserts that this attack demonstrates the deliberate killing of Palestinian civilians on behalf of the IOF, and the intended targeting of residential areas.
In a previous incident on 13 August at approximately 9:30am, the IOF fired from machineguns towards agricultural land in eastern Al Bureij Refugee Camp in the Middle districts of the Strip.
Halima Obeid Abu Said, 39, and her son Sa'ed Saiel Abu Said, 12, were injured as a result.
The situation is such in these areas that Palestinian farmers do not have access to their lands to harvest their crops, as the IOF fire on whoever approaches the agricultural areas adjacent to the eastern and northern borders of the Gaza Strip.
This measure has deprived many Palestinian farmers from their sole source of livelihood.
Furthermore, the IOF have maintained the closure of Rafah Crossing, preventing thousands of Palestinians from traveling, including patients returning from medical treatment abroad, visitors who had come to meet their families and relatives in the Gaza Strip, and students who were accepted in Arab and other foreign universities.
Exceptionally, on 18 and 19 July the IOF were obliged to open Rafah crossing after a group of passengers stranded on the Egyptian side of the terminal broke through the wall to the Palestinian side on 14 July.
The crossing was reopened on 10 and 11 August, allowing around 3,358 passengers to leave the Gaza Strip, however thousands are still waiting to leave.
Al Mezan expresses grave concern over the ongoing IOF offensive against Palestinians in the OPT, and confirms that these measures gravely violate many guarantees enshrined in international humanitarian and human rights law, such as in the 4th Geneva Convention, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which defend one's rights to life and peaceful living, to freedom of movement, and to work.
In light of these violations, Al Mezan demands: The Human Rights Council send an investigative committee to examine Israeli violations of its obligations under human rights conventions.
The Committee on the Rights of the Child, Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and Committee on Civil and Political Rights examine Israel's non-compliance to its obligations under signed conventions, which obligate the occupying power to put in action and respect human rights.
High Contracting Parties to the 4th Geneva Convention to: Hold a conference to examine crimes perpetrated by the IOF which demonstrate Israeli disrespect of its obligations under the Convention; Fulfill their legal and moral obligations and provide protection to Palestinian civilians in the OPT.
End