In an unprecedented new development in Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip, the IOF warned of their imminent destruction of two residential tower blocks: Al Awda and Al Nada in eastern Beit Hanoun, forcing most residents to hurriedly leave their apartments.
Simultaneously, the IOF targeted 4 houses in Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Rafah after similarly notifying residents to evacuate their houses.
5 Palestinians were killed and 38 others injured, including 10 children.
According to Al Mezan field investigations, at approximately 1:20pm on 24 July, IOF tanks deployed in eastern Jabalia fired 5 missiles at Al Nada towers, one of which landed at the entrance of the tower no.
10, killing Sa'ady Ahmed Mahmoud Nu'em, 30, Sadeq Abd Al Rao'of Ahmed Naser, 33, and 14- year-old Saleh Abd Al Ra'of Naser.
11 Palestinians were reported injured, including 3 children and a woman.
Furthermore, at approximately 6:20pm IOF tanks resumed the firing of missiles at Al Nada towers.
A missile landed close to tower no.
11, killing 12- year-old Khetam Mohammed Rebhi Taieh, and injuring her sister Noha, 11 who sustained shrapnel wounds to different parts of the body; another civilian suffered moderate injuries.
Continuing their aggression, at approximately 7:00pm the IOF fired more missiles towards the towers, at the end located in western Beit Hanoun district, one of which landed near the tower No.
26, injuring 3 persons with shrapnel to different parts of the body.
On the same day at approximately 3:45pm, an IOF scouting jet fired a rocket at a donkey cart transporting Palestinian farmers, killing Khairiya Hashem Al Attar, 62, and her grandson Nadi Habib Al Attar, 11, and injuring her son Shadi Shaher Al Attar, 11, with shrapnel to different parts of the body, and Younis Mohammed Abu Qlieq, 15, with shrapnel to the left leg, and Ahmed Al Attar, 19 who sustained shrapnel wounds in different parts of the body.
In this unprecedented escalation of aggression, the IOF notified residents of 4 houses, of the IOF intention to destroy their houses, demanding them to evacuate.
In the early morning of 24 July, IOF war planes shelled a house near Al Fairouz towers, in northwest Gaza City.
Further, on 25 July they shelled a house in Al Shaja'ia neighborhood of Gaza City, and two other houses in Khan Younis and Rafah.
5 civilians were reported injured.
These attacks have resulted in a total number of 38 injured, including 10 children, and 9 members of the same family.
Al Mezan is gravely concerned over the escalation of this IOF offensive against Palestinian civilians, and stresses the gravity of fact that the IOF announced its intention to shell residential buildings, as this kind of premeditated acknowledgement of a crime is unprecedented.
Al Mezan assures that these acts will lead to a further deterioration of the situation on the ground, as they spread panic among Palestinians and force them to evacuate their houses.
Al Mezan affirms that these acts constitute a grave violation of the Palestinians' right to adequate housing.
A high number of civilians living in the Al Awda and Al Nada towera evacuated their homes, having to leave everything behind, including furniture, clothes and other belongings.
It is noteworthy that Al Nada tower consists of 26 buildings, each one consisting of 18 apartments.
The number of the Palestinian living in these buildings is 468 families, a total of 2,300 individuals.
Al Mezan strongly condemns the escalating IOF offensive against Palestinian civilians in the OPT and their property, and emphasizes that the silence of the international community in light of the drastic impacts of the IOF violations on the humanitarian situation in the OPT encourages Israel to commit further crimes.
Al Mezan calls upon the international community, most notably the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under the Convention, halt Israeli war crimes and provide protection to Palestinian civilians in the OPT.
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