1,938 Palestinians Killed, 1,626 of Whom Are Civilians, Including 460 Children and 246 Women, and 7,920 Others Wounded, Mostly Civilians, Including 2,111 Children and 1,415 Women;

800 Houses Targeted and Destroyed and Thousands of Others Extensively Damaged;

Thousands of Palestinian Civilians Forcibly Displaced

Israeli occupation forces have continued their brutal and immoral offensive on the Gaza Strip for the 29^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. Israeli forces continued to attack the Gaza Strip from the air, the ground and the sea.  More Palestinian civilians were killed or wounded as Israeli warplanes bombarded houses while their residents were inside.  On Monday morning, 04 August 2014, Israel declared a 5-hour humanitarian truce, but Israeli forces violated it and bombarded a house in al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, killing 6 Palestinian civilians.  In the meantime, Israeli forces have continued to commit more crimes in Rafah, which was not covered by the truce.  Even in areas where the truce was effective and Palestinian civilians were allowed to return to their homes, Israeli tanks fired a number of shells at the destroyed homes.

By the time of writing this update, a 72-hour humanitarian truce has entered into force since 08:00.  Forcibly displaced civilians have gone to their homes, and they have been shocked by the scenes of destruction caused by Israeli forces.

Filed tours in the areas located in the east of the Gaza Strip showed extensive destruction caused by Israeli forces to hundreds of houses and the civilian infrastructure.  Israeli forces destroyed a cemetery in Khuza’a village. 

Electricity supplies have been off in the Gaza Strip for the 8^th 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. 

From 10:00 Monday, 04 August 2014, to 10:00 on Tuesday, 05 August 2014, according to what PCHR has been able to document, 13 Palestinians, 10 of whom are civilians, including 4 children and 2 women, were killed, and 105 others, including 32 children and 17 women, were wounded.  Medical crews were able to recover the bodies of 32 Palestinians, 25 of whom are civilians, including 32 children and 17 women.  Five Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, died of previous wounds.  Additionally, Israeli warplanes destroyed 9 houses.

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

The Northern Gaza Strip:

Israeli warplanes launched a number airstrikes and Israeli tanks fired some shells targeting houses, agricultural plots and open areas.  As a result of these attacks, 39 Palestinian civilians, including 12 children and a woman, were wounded.  Bodies of 11 Palestinians, 9 of whom are civilians, including 3 children and 4 women, were recovered from the debris of destroyed homes.  Additionally, Israeli warplanes targeted and destroyed 2 houses.   

The most significant attacks were as follows:

- At approximately 10:30 on Monday, 04 August 2014, medical crews recovered the bodies of 2 members of a Palestinian armed group from the northwest of Beit Lahia.

- Also at approximately 10:30, medical crews recovered the body of 'Abdullah Mousa Mubarak, 50, from Abu Safiya area in the east of Jabalya.

- At approximately 16:30, medical crews recovered the bodies of 8 members of the Wahdan family, including 3 children, who were killed in their house in Beit Hanoun at the beginning of the Israeli military ground operation.  The victims were identified as: Zaki 'Abdul Rahman Wahdan, 67; Su’ad Ismail Wahdan, 65; Baghdad Ahmed Wahdan, 51; Zainab Hatem Wahdan, 27; Somoud Hatem Wahdan, 22, and her child Ghina Bashir Saqer, 2; Ahmed Hatem Wahdan, 13; and Hussein Hatem Wahdan, 9.

- At approximately 22:40, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to Zamel al-Wehaidi in al-Saftawi area in Jabalya.  Soon after, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the house and destroyed it.

- At approximately 07:50 on Tuesday, 05 August 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a 3-storey house belonging to Waheed al-Khali in Tal al-Za’tar area.  The house was damaged.

Gaza City:

Israeli warplanes launched a number airstrikes and Israeli gunboats and tanks fired shells targeting houses, agricultural plots, open areas, mosques and civilian facilities. As a result of these attacks, 7 Palestinians, 6 of whom are civilians, including a woman and her two children, were killed, and the bodies of 4 Palestinian civilians were recovered from al-Shuja’iya neighborhood.  Israeli warplanes also targeted and destroyed a house. 

The most significant attacks in Gaza City were as follows:

- At approximately 10:05 on Monday, 04 August 2014, in violation of the humanitarian truce declared by Israel, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a 2-storey house belonging to Kamal Mohammed al-Bakri, in which 30 people live, in the densely populated al-Shatti refugee camp, west of Gaza City.  As a result, the house was destroyed and 5 Palestinian civilians were instantly killed: Ibtissam Ibrahim al-Bakri, 31; her children: Aseel, 4; and Mohammed, 4 months; Ramadan Kamal al-Bakri, 36; and Ibrahim Mohammed al-Masharawi, 32. Kamal Ahmed al-Bakri, 4, died of his wound on Tuesday morning.  Five neighboring houses were also destroyed.

- At approximately 13:00, medical crews recovered the bodies of 4 Palestinian civilians who were killed by Israeli shelling that targeted al-Shuja’iya neighborhood on 20 July 2014.  They were identified as: Mohammed Saleh Shamali, 60; Mohammed Husni Sukkar, 22; Mahmoud 'Abdul Nasser Bahar, 22; and Mohammed 'Abdul Rahim Abu Baid, 25.

- At approximately 17:30, the body of Mahmoud Ashraf al-Khalili, 7, was brought to Shifa Hospital from an Egyptian Hospital where he had been receiving medical treatment as he was seriously wounded when Israeli forces shelled his family’s house in al-Tuffah neighborhood on 30 July 2014.

The Central Gaza Strip:

Israeli warplanes launched an airstrike and tanks fired a number of shells.  As a result, a member of a Palestinian armed group was killed, and 2 civilians were wounded.  The bodies of 2 members of a Palestinian armed group were also recovered.

The most significant attacks were as follows:

- At approximately 16:00 on Monday, 04 August 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a member of a Palestinian armed group in Deir al-Balah, killing him.

- At approximately 15:00, medical crews recovered the bodies of 2 members of a Palestinian armed group from Juhor al-Dik village.

Khan Yunis:

Israeli warplanes launched 16 airstrikes targeting houses and agricultural plots in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis.  Israeli tanks also fired dozens of shells at agricultural and open areas.  As a result of these attacks, 16 Palestinian civilians were wounded.  Three Palestinians, including child, also died of previous wounds.  The bodies of 5 Palestinians, including 3 civilians, were recovered.  Israeli warplanes also targeted and destroyed a house.  Filed tours in the areas located to the east of Khan Yunis showed extensive destruction caused by Israeli forces to hundreds of houses and the civilian infrastructure.  Israeli forces destroyed a cemetery in Khuza’a village.  In spite of declaring a humanitarian truce, Israeli forces continued to fire tanks shells at the debris of destroyed houses.  

The most significant attacks were as follows:

- At approximately 12:30 on Monday, 04 August 2014, Israeli tanks fired a number of shells at Khuza’a and 'Abassan villages, east of Khan Yunis.  Dozens of Palestinian civilians who went to the village to check their houses were forced to leave these areas.

- At approximately 15:00, medical crews recovered the body of a member of a Palestinian armed group from the debris of a destroyed house in al-Qarara village.  They also recovered the body of Ahmed Hammad al-Daghma, 30, from 'Abassan village, and the bodies of 3 Palestinians from Khuza’a village.

- At approximately 17:00, Israeli warplanes launched 2 missiles at agricultural plots in 'Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis.

- At approximately 18:00, Israeli warplanes launched 2 missiles at house belonging to al-'Omour family and an open area in al-Fukhari village, southeast of Khan Yunis. 

- At approximately 21:55, Israeli warplanes launched 3 missiles at al-Manara and Ma’an areas in the south of Khan Yunis, causing some damage.

- At approximately 23:45, an Israeli drones fired 2 missiles at the roof of al-Farra building in Jalal Street in the center of Khan Yunis.  No casualties were reported.

- At approximately 00:00 on Tuesday, 05 August 2014, medical sources declared that Fayez Ismail Abu Hammad, 33, died of previous wounds he sustained by Israeli shelling in al-Zanna area. 

- At approximately 07:40, Israeli warplanes launched at least 10 airstrikes on various areas in Khan Yunis.

- In the morning, medical sources declared that Huzaifa Ahmed Abu 'Olayan, 19, died of previous wounds he sustained by Israeli selling in 'Abassan village on the first day of the Eid al-Futur.  Medical sources declared also that Khaled Ziad al-Hindi, 15, died of previous wounds he sustained when Israeli forces shelled a house near his family’s house on 29 July 2014. 

Rafah:

Israeli warplanes launched 15 airstrikes and Israeli tanks fired dozens of shells targeting houses, agricultural lands and open areas in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah.  As a result, 5 Palestinians, including 4 civilians, were killed – the civilian victims include 2 children and a woman.  Additionally, 20 Palestinians, including 5 children and 8 women, were wounded.  Israeli warplanes targeted and destroyed 5 houses.  Medical crews also recovered the bodies of 12 Palestinians, 11 of whom are civilians, including 4 children and 5 women, one of whom is pregnant.  

The most significant attacks were as follows:

- At approximately 11:00 on Monday, 04 August 2014, medical crews recovered the bodies of 12 Palestinians, 11 of whom are civilians, including 4 children and 5 women, one of whom is pregnant, from destroyed houses in the east of Rafah.  The civilian victims are: Ibtissam Hammad al-Mahmoum, 18; Bissan Mustafa al-Mahmoum, 12; 'Abada Mustafa al-Mahmoud, 2; Hiba Mustafa al-Mahmoum, 9; Radia Zaidan Abu 'Omran,; Fadiya Abu 'Omran; Younis 'Eid Abu 'Omran, 24; Ismail Nasser Ermailat, 20; Aseel Saleh Abu Mohsen, 18; and Hammam Mohammed Abu Suhaiban, 10.

- At approximately 11:30, medical sources at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis declared that Za’al Rezeq Musleh, 54, a worker in the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility, died of wounds he sustained a few hours earlier, when an Israeli drone fired a missile at him in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of Rafah.

- At approximately 17:00, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at the garage of al-Shouka Municipality.  A number of vehicles were destroyed and the building of the municipality was damaged.

- At approximately 18:30, an Israeli drone fired a missile at house belonging to Amjad 'Owaida in al-Brazil neighborhood in the south of Rafah.  Two of 'Owaida’s children were killed as they were feeding birds on the roof of the house: Mohammed, 14; and Amal, 5.  At the same time, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a neighboring house belonging to Wa’el Hammad, but no casualties were reported.

- At approximately 18:35, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to Salah Bahloul, in which 9 people live, in al-Salam neighborhood in the south of Rafah.  The house was partially destroyed.

- At approximately 18:40, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a house belonging to Mahrous Duhair in al-Nasser village, north of Rafah.  As a result, Duhair’s daughter, Karam, 26, a nurse, was killed and 11 members of the family were wounded.  The victim lives with her husband in Deir al-Balah, but she was forcibly displaced, so she went to her father’s house in Rafah.

- At approximately 20:45, Israeli warplanes launched 2 missiles at a house belonging to Mohammed Mahmoud al-Khawaja, in which 16 people live, in al-Tannour neighborhood in the east of Rafah.  The house was destroyed.

PCHR reiterates condemnation, expresses utmost concern for these crimes, and:

1) Calls upon the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to promptly visit the Gaza Strip, to fulfill her responsibilities to stop this barbaric offensive and to closely watch the systematic destruction caused and deliberate targeting of Palestinian civilians and property protected under the international law;

2) Calls upon the UN Human Rights Council to accelerate the formation of the fact-finding mission as decided by the Council in the resolution taken in its special session that was held on 23 July 2014 to investigate violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law in the occupied Palestinian territory without any delay related to bureaucratic restrictions and procedures;

3) Calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their contractual obligations not only to respect the Convention, but also ensure respect for the Convention, and to immediately intervene to stop war crimes committed by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians, and calls upon the Swiss Government, the depository of the Geneva Conventions, to call for a new conference of the High Contracting Parties as soon as possible;

4) Stresses that holding war criminals accountable is an essential condition for any future settlement, and the international community should confirm that no impunity for war criminals, and the achievement of peace is conditioned by respect for human rights and the international law, and prosecution of war criminals;

5) Calls upon the Palestinian leadership to immediately accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which will provide opportunities to prosecute Israeli war criminals before the Court;

6) Stresses that the Gaza Strip is a disaster area and there is an urgent need to treat the disastrous humanitarian situation resulting from deliberate Israeli attacks on the civilian infrastructure, including electricity, water, hospitals, shelters and houses, forcible displacement of more than 500,000 civilians ad systematic and mass destruction of civilian communities;

7) Calls upon the international community to intervene to stop the policies of collective punishment and left the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip for more than seven years, allowing the freedom of movement and goods, away from artificial improvements which have contributed to institutionalizing and prolonging the closure.