Extreme Shortages of Electricity and Water Supplies Raise Concerns for Public Health

Since the Beginning of the Israeli Offensive on Gaza:

1,432 Palestinians Killed, of Whom 1,219 Are Civilians, Including 345 Children and 186 Women, and 6,511 Others Wounded, Mostly Civilians, Including 1,786 Children and 1,239 Women;

680 Houses Targeted and Destroyed and Hundreds of Others Extensively Damaged

Israeli occupation forces have continued their brutal and immoral offensive on the Gaza Strip for the 24^th consecutive day, and have continued the policy of collective punishment in disregard for the international law and humanitarian law, which ensure protection for civilians in times of war, and in violation of the principles of necessity, proportionality and distinction. Israeli forces have continued their aerial, ground and sea attacks throughout the Gaza Strip, causing more civilian casualties and damaging civilian facilities. Israeli forces escalated their attacks throughout the Gaza Strip. At approximately 15:00 on Wednesday, Israeli forces declared a humanitarian truce for 4 hours, so many Palestinian civilians went out to buy basic needs. Soon, Israeli tanks fired many shells at Palestinian civilians in al-Shuja'iya market.  As a result of the attack, 30 civilians, including 8 children, 2 journalists, a paramedic and 2 civil defense workers, were killed.  At another levels, Palestinian civilians were released from custody by Israeli forces stated that Israeli forces put them on the fronts of tanks as human shields while moving into Palestinian communities east of Khan Yuniss.  They were extremely tortured during interrogation in Kerem Shalom post, southeast of Rafah.  Electricity supplies have been off in the Gaza Strip for the third consecutive day.  Municipalities face extreme difficulties in their work due to the lack of fuel supplies and because if Israeli attacks.  These developments raise concerns regarding public health in Gaza Strip, which is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.  The crisis has further aggravated as at least 400,000 civilians were forcibly displaced from their homes, and were forced to resort to shelters in the centers of towns and refugee camps.

PCHR field workers have been unable to collect information from border areas in the Gaza Strip, because the situation is extremely dangerous in these areas.  The following details are based on the information which the field workers have been able to collect.

From 10:00 on Wednesday, 30 July 2014 to 10:00 on Thursday, 31 July 2014, according to what PCHR has been able to document, 75 Palestinians, 71 of whom are civilians, including 10 children, 7 women, 2 journalists, a paramedic and 2 civil defense workers, were killed, and 587 others, including 152 children and 70 women, were wounded.  Medical crews were able to recover the bodies of 20 Palestinians, of 8 of whom are civilians, including 5 children and 2 women.  Eleven Palestinians, 7 of whom are civilians, including 2 children and a journalist, died of previous wounds.  Additionally, Israeli warplanes and tanks destroyed 22 houses, 3 mosques, 2 media offices, a number of flats, a kindergarten and a water desalination plant.  

The latest developments since the press release issued by PCHR yesterday noon have been as follows:

The Northern Gaza Strip:

Israeli forces launched several airstrikes while Israeli tanks and gunboats fired dozens of artillery shells targeting houses, agricultural plots and open areas.  As a result of these attacks, 7 Palestinians, including 6 civilians, were killed, and 124 others, including 58 children and 19 women, were wounded.  Israeli warplanes also targeted 8 houses and destroyed 5 of them.

The most significant attacks were as follows:

- At approximately 10:30 on Wednesday, 30 July 2014, medical sources declared that a member of a Palestinian armed group died of wounds he sustained on 21 July 2014. Additionally, 8-month-old Mohammed Taleb 'Assaf was pronounced dead of previous wounds he sustained by Israeli artillery shelling that targeted Jabalya on the previous day.

- At approximately 10:50, Israeli warplanes bombarded a house belonging to Abu al-Hassani family in the vicinity of Jabalya market.  The house was destroyed, and 'Odai Yahia Junaid, 19, was killed and 3 members of his family were wounded, as they live in a nearby house. Additionally, 24 civilians, including 15 children and 7 women, were wounded.

- At approximately 11:15, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a number of Palestinian civilians who were near Sa'id Musallam Mosque in Beit Lahia.  As a result, 'Abdul Jalil Mohammed Abu Shadaq, 41, and Jamal Shihda Abu Shadaq, 41, were killed, and 2 women were wounded.

- At approximately 11:45, Israeli tanks fired a number of shells that landed near Abu Bakr Mosque at al-Qerem intersection in Jabalya.  As a result, Fareed Shawqi Junaid, 31, was killed.

- At approximately 13:00, Israeli warplanes bombarded and destroyed the building of Nour al-Ma'aref Kindergarten near al-Qerem intersection in Jabalya.

- At approximately 13:15, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City declared that Ibrahim Mohammed Khader Salman, 40, died of wounds he had sustained when Israeli forces shelled an UNRWA shelter in Jabalya in the morning.

- At approximately 14:15, an Israeli drone attacked a member of a Palestinian armed group in al-Shaima' area in Beit Lahia, wounding him.  When  a number of young men attempted to help him, the Israeli drone fired another missile at them.  As a result, Mohammed Tayseer Sabbaba, 22, was killed, and  others were wounded.

- At approximately 14:30, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a number of Palestinian civilians in al-Shaima' area in Beit Lahia.  As a result, Sameer Zakaria Ekrayem, 24, was seriously wounded.  He died of his wounds 4 hours later.

- At approximately 15:30, medical crews recovered bodies of 10 members of Palestinian armed groups who had been killed by Israeli forces in Jabalya and Beit Lahia.

- At approximately 16:00, medical sources at Shifa Hospital declared that Mihat Shihada al-'Aamoudi, 53, and Mohammed Harb Ghaben, 27, died of wounds he had sustained when Israeli forces shelled an UNRWA shelter in Jabalya in the morning.

-  At approximately 22:30, an Israeli drone fired a missile at members of a Palestinian armed group in al-Twam area in Jabalya, killing one of them and wounding 2 others.

- At approximately 05:50 on Thursday, 31 July 2014, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at al-Baraka water desalination plant near an UNRWA shelter in Jabalya.  As a result, 13 children and 3 women were wounded.

- Israeli warplanes also targeted 8 houses and destroyed 5 of them.

Gaza City:

Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes that targeted houses, flats, a mosque, a market and media offices, while Israeli tanks and gunboats fired dozens of shells at the city.  As a result of these attacks, 30 Palestinian civilians, including 8 children, 2 journalists, a paramedic and 2 civil defense personnel, were killed, while 4 civilians, including a journalist, died of pervious wounds.  Additionally, 276 civilians, including 43 children and 22 women, were wounded. Three houses, 2 flats, a mosque and a media office were destroyed.

The most significant attacks were as follows:

- At approximately 12:30 on Wednesday, 30 July 2014, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a 4-storey house belonging to 'Atiya Marwan al-Tibi in Sheikh Radwan neighborhood.  The house was destroyed and 5 civilians were wounded.

- At approximately 14:00, medical sources declared that Ahmed Mohammed Bakr died of wounds he sustained when Israeli warplanes bombarded his family's house  a few days ago.

- At approximately 16:30, Israeli tanks fired 2 shells at al-Basha building in al-Thalathini Street in the center of Gaza City.  One of the shells hit the 12^th floor which is used as a media training center belonging to Na'im al-Nawati.  The other shell hit the 13^th floor of the building which is used an office of Star Advertising Company belonging to Ayman Yassin.  Extensive damage was caused to the two floors.

- At approximately 17:00, during a humanitarian truce declared by Israeli forces, many Palestinian civilians went to al-Shuja'iya market for shopping.  In the meantime, Israeli tanks fired a number of shells at the market and its vicinity.  Journalists and medical crews headed to the area, but the Israeli tanks fired more shells at the area.  As a result of the attack, 30 Palestinian civilians, 20 of them were in the market and its vicinity, including a child, 2 journalists, a paramedic and a firefighter, were killed, while the other 10 ones , including 7 children, are members of the al-Silk family who were on the roof of their house.  The victims were identified as: Rami Fathi Rayan, 25, a freelance journalist; 'Abdul Raziq Ibrahim al-Biltaji, 55, a civil defense volunteer; 'Aahed 'Abed Rabbu al-Dahdouh, 32; 'Abed Wa'el Shamali, 16; Haitham Mahfouz Kishku, 29; 'Alaa' Mohammed Rajab, 19; Mohammed Mahmoud Rajab, 20; Ma'ath Ahmed Tayeh, 23; Sa'di Sa'di Faraj, 21; 'Aahed Ziad al-Gharabli, 24; Mohammed Mazen Fouda, 18; Shareef Mahmoud Toutah, 21; Ra'fat Kamal Toutah, 20; Hamdi Sa'ei Abu Zour, 50; Mo'taz Bassem Dib, 18; 'Alaa' Wa'el 'Olaiwa, 21, a journalist; Sameh Mohammed al-'Aryan 29; Lu'ai Fayez al-'Arqan, 25; Mohammed Nour al-Dairi, a civil defense worker; Rami Kamal Daher; 'Abdul 'Aziz Mohammed al-Silk, 3; 'Abdul Halim Mohammed al-Silk, 5; Malak Dalal al-Silk, 7; Ameena Mohammed al-Silk, 8; Lina 'Alaa' al-Silk, 9; 'Abdul Karim Hussein al-Silk, 70; Layan Na'el al-Silk, 3; 'Alaa' Jalal al-Silk,10; Mustafa Khaled al-Silk, 18; and 'Alaa' 'Abdul Karim al-Silk, 35.

- At approximately 17:00, an Israeli tank fired a shell at the 14^th floor of al-Jundi al-Majhoul building in al-Remal neighborhood, which belongs to Nasser 'Ezzat al-Kafarna, damaging it.  At the same time, another shell hit the 6^th floor of Safad Building in the same area, damaging it.

- At approximately 22:45, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at Hamza Bin 'Abdul Muttaleb Mosque, which is under construction, in Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in the south of Gaza City.  The mosque was destroyed.

- Medical crews recovered bodies of 2 members of Palestinian armed groups, and Dana Mohammed Daher, 1, whose is a journalist who was killed by Israeli forces.

- At approximately 01:00 on Thursday, 31 July 2014, medical sources declared that Sofian Mustafa Abu Shaqfa, 50, died of wounds he sustained when an Israeli artillery shell landed on al-Shati refugee camp a few day ago.

- In the morning, medical crews declared that Mohammed Majed Daher, 27, died of wounds he had sustained when Israeli forces shelled his house in al-Shuja'iya neighborhood on 20 July 2014.

- At approximately 05:00, medical sources declared that Nour 'Ezzu al-Je'el, 5, died of wounds sustained 2 days ago when Israeli forces shelled her family's house in al-Sabra neighborhood.  Her grandmother and sister were killed in the attack.

- At approximately 06:00, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a 2-storey house belonging to Bayan 'Ata Eqtaifan in al-Nasser neighborhood and destroyed it. 

- At approximately 06:30, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a 3-storey house belonging to Badr Younis Sabra in al-Tuffah neighborhood and destroyed it.

The Central Gaza Strip:

Israeli warplanes launched 7 airstrikes and tanks fired dozens of shells at civilians, houses, mosques, agricultural plots and open areas.  As a result of these attacks, 7 Palestinian civilians, including a woman and a child, were killed, and 46 others, including 14 children and 5 women, were wounded.  Additionally, 2 houses were destroyed. 

The most significant attacks were as follows:

- At approximately 10:00 on Wednesday, 30 July 2014, an Israeli artillery shell hit a house belonging to Zakaria Suleiman Abu Mizyed, 40, in al-Zawaida village.  As a result, Mizyed's brother-in-law, 'Ammar Suleiman al-Musaddar, 30, was seriously wounded.  He died of his wound 2 hours later.

- At approximately 10:50, Israeli tanks fired a shell at al-Ta'abin area in al-Zawaida village.  A shall hit a house belonging to Muyassar Mohammed al-Ta'ban, 33, killing her.

- At approximately 18:50, an Israeli drone fired a missile at Street 20 in al-Nussairat refugee camp.  As a result, Mohammed Taysser Hazza', 25, was killed and his brother was wounded.

-  At approximately 19:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at Ahmed Yasser al-Louh, 22, in al-Mahatta area in Deir al-Balah.  He was seriously wounded, and he died of his wound 3 hours later.

- At approximately 119:10, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a motor cart near Bank of Palestine in Deir al-Balah.  As a result, 3 persons who were traveling on the cart were wounded, and Mayar Jamal Abu Musabbeh, 10, who was in the balcony of her family's house, was killed.

- At approximately 21:25, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a 3-storey house belonging to Hamed Hamed al-Tayeb, in which 16 people live, in al-Boreij refugee camp.  The house was destroyed and 3 neighbors were wounded.

- At approximately 23:00, Israeli tanks fired a number of shells at Saladin Street near Deir al-Balah.  A number of shells hit al-'Awda Biscuits Factory, a mosque and a store of construction materials, causing a blaze that has not been extinguished so far.  A number of shells also landed near al-Boreij Grand Mosque in al-Boreij refugee camp.  Fire broke out in the mosque.

- At approximately 01:40 on Thursday, 31 July 2014, medical sources declared that Bara' Yousef Ibrahim, 20, was killed by Israeli artillery shells that landed on al-Nussairat refugee camp on Wednesday evening.

- At approximately 04:10, an Israeli drone fired a missile at Suleiman Sa'di Baraka, 31, an engineer, when he was on his way to the mosque in al-Brouk area in Deir al-Balah.  He was instantly killed.

- At approximately 08:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at the vicinity of a house belonging to 'Aaref Ahmed Mohammed Baraka, 40,  in Deir al-Balah.  Baraka was instantly killed.    

Khan Yunis:

Israeli warplanes launched a number of airstrikes and tanks and gunboats fired dozens of shells at Palestinian civilians and property in Khan Yunis.  As a result of these attacks, 29 Palestinians, 26 of whom are civilians, including 5 women and a child, were killed, and a civilian died of a previous wound.  Additionally, 116 Palestinians, including 25 children and 21 women, were wounded.  Thirteen houses were also bombarded, and 6 of them were destroyed.  Two mosques were also destroyed.

The most significant attacks were as follows:

- At approximately 10:00 on Wednesday, 30 July 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to Yassin Mustafa al-Astal, in which 7 people live.  Two hours later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it. As a result, 3 civilians, including a woman, were wounded.

- At approximately 11:00, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a 3-storey house belonging to 'Aatef Suleiman Abu Jazar, in which 26 people live.  The eastern part of the house and a nearby house were destroyed. Noura Hussam Abu Jazar, 5, was moderately wounded.

- At approximately 12:05, Israeli warplanes bombarded a road amidst a number of houses in a densely populated area.  As a result, 7 houses were destroyed and other one were destroyed.  Seven Palestinian civilians, including 3 women and a child, were killed: Ibrahim Mustafa Hijazi, 80; his wife Miriam Ahmed Hijazi, 70; his daughter Subhiya, 50; his grandchild, Salah Mousa Hijzai, 13; Zainab Mahmoud Abu Jazar, 50; Ismail Mahmoud Hijazi, 18; and Ramadan Abu Taha, 18.  Additionally, 20 civilians, including 5 children and 3 women, were wounded.

- In the morning, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at the minaret of al-Nour Mosque in al-Satar al-Gharbi area destroying it.

- At approximately 13:00, an Israeli warplane fired a missile near a house belonging to the al-Qahwaji area in Bani Suhaila.  As a result, Mahdiya Suleiman al-Reqeb, 68, was seriously wounded.  She died of her wounds at the hospital.

- At approximately 13:15, Israeli drones fired 3 missiles at a 2-storey house belonging to Hamdi 'Abdul Karim al-Sha'er, in which 15 people live, and a 2-storey uninhabited house belonging to the al-Sha'er family.  A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the second house largely destroying it.  At least 3 nearby houses were damaged.

- At approximately 17:30, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a motorbike in 'Abassan village.  As a result, 2 Palestinian civilians were killed: Ismail Waleed Abu Tair, 18; and Anwar 'Aadel Abu Tair, 21.

- At approximately 18:10, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to Ibrahim Yousef al-Astal, 35, in al-Satar al-Sharqi area.  The house was destroyed and al-Astal was killed.  Another two civilians were also killed: 'Abdullah Fayez Fayad, 23; and Suhaib Saleh Salama, 23.

- At approximately 16:50, Israeli warplanes launched 2 missiles at a number of Palestinian civilians in 'Abassan village.  As a result, 6 civilians were killed: Ahmed Khail Abu 'Anza, 32; Shadi 'Abdullah Abu 'Anza, 38; Ahmed 'Abdullah Abu 'Anza, 42; 'Ali Mohammed Abu 'Anza, 27; Mohammed Suleiman Baraka, 53; and 'Emad 'Ali 'Asfour, 37.

- At approximately 19:30, an Israeli drone fired a missile on the roof of a house belonging to the Baraka family.  As a result, 2 Palestinian civilians were killed: 'Omar Fayez Abu 'Olayan, 21; and 'Aassem Ahmed Baraka, 25.

- At approximately 20:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at al-Zanna area in Bani Suhaila village.  As a result, 'Alaa' 'Abdul Karim al-Qarra, 24.

- At approximately 21:00, Israeli warplanes fired 2 missiles at two houses belonging to Rajab and Hamada 'Abdul Jawad al-Astal in al-Satar al-Gharbi area.  The two houses were destroyed and 'Ali 'Abdul Majid al-Astal, 30, was killed.

- In the evening, medical sources declared that Sa'eb al-'Abadla died of previous wounds he had sustained by Israeli shelling.

:: Article nr. 108888 sent on 14-aug-2014 11:36 ECT