Al Mezan expresses serious concern over ongoing Israeli aggression against Palestinian civilians and their property in the OPT, after a Palestinian was killed in a new attack in Rafah.
In addition, during the IOF invasion of Deir Al Balah on 13 September, one farmhouse and two water wells were destroyed, two houses badly damaged and 30 dunums of agricultural land bulldozed, as well as a poultry farm.
Dr.
Osama Abu Safeia was detained before the IOF withdrawal from the area.
According to Al Mezan field investigations, on 14 September, at approximately 04:00, the IOF killed Iyad Mousa Abu Mour, 20, with a live bullet to the head during their incursion into areas near Sofa Crossing, northeast Rafah City.
Earlier, on 12 September at approximately 03:00, seven IOF tanks and two bulldozers penetrated 600 meters into Qouz Abu Hamam area of eastern Deir Al Balah, and withdrew the next day, at approximately 15:30.
During this period, the IOF broke into the house of Dr Osama Hussein Hasan Abu Safeia, the head of the High Election Committee, destroyed the fence surrounding the house, cracked the walls in the upper floor and confined the nine residents of the house to one single room, effectively using the family as a human shield within their own house.
The IOF detained Abu Safeia and his son Hussein, who was released few hours later.
Further the IOF broke into the house of Abd Al Hai Soliman Said, and again confined the residents of the house to one room.
Furthermore, the IOF bulldozed 30 dunums of agricultural land planted with olive and palm trees, almond plantations, and vegetables.
They also destroyed the water well owned by Abdullah Said, as well as a farmhouse and a 300 meter square poultry farm.
Al Mezan strongly condemns this ongoing IOF offensive against Palestinian civilians and their property in the Gaza Strip, and emphasizes that the killing of Palestinians, the destruction of property and the targeting of the sole livelihood of many Palestinians, constitute grave breaches of international humanitarian law, notably the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Al Mezan also affirms that these practices illustrate Israel’s disrespect of its obligations under international law.
The Center also denounces the silence of the international community in light of the incessant tight closure of Gaza’s borders: Rafah Crossing has been closed since June 2006.
Thus, Al Mezan calls upon the international community, especially the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to immediately intervene to end the Israeli violations and provide international protection to Palestinian civilians in the OPT and in particular the Gaza strip.
End