The Israeli Occupation Force (IOF) has escalated its aggression against the Gaza Strip. The IOF, which has full control and clear sight over the borders, killed three children and arrested 13 civilians yesterday. According to field investigations by Al Mezan, at approximately 5.10pm on Wednesday 29 August 2007, the IOF fired one missile that landed where three children were playing near their homes by the Industrial Zone, which is only two kilometers from the borderline to the south of the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun. Read more about Israeli forces kill three children, arrest 13 in Gaza
The Gaza Strip saw much tension during the past two days. One Palestinian was killed, 21 were injured and about 60 others arrested in the towns of Rafah and Gaza City. Mass Friday prayers on 31 August 2007 ended with clashes between the Executive Force (EF) and a group of the worshippers, who prayed outside mosques in response to a call from Fatah. In addition, a minor was killed on Saturday, 1 September 2007 as the EF dispersed a vigil that was organized in protest of the prolonged closure of the Rafah Crossing. Read more about One killed, 21 injured in Gaza clashes
The Israeli Occupation Force (IOF) has escalated its aggression in the Gaza Strip. Twelve Palestinians, including two minors, were killed in Gaza in the past 24 hours. In addition, the Israel’s Naval Forces opened fire at fishermen and arrested eight of them in the town of Rafah today. According to Al Mezan’s field investigations, at approximately 5pm on Monday 20 August 2007, an Israeli air raid targeted a car near the entrance of a former national security site in middle Gaza, killing six. Read more about Israel kills 12 Gazans, including two children, in 24 hours
Gaza’s only power plant has completely ceased providing power after Israel’s four-day closure of the border crossing through which fuel supplies enter the Strip and the European Union’s freezing of funds. Gazans’ already hard living conditions are expected to rapidly aggravate without proper power supplies. Israel, which has full control of Gaza’s border crossings, has continued its policy of closure, a serious measure of collective punishment against Gaza. Since 2000, it tightened the closures, but completely sealed off the Strip in June and imposed unprecedented restrictions on the movement of people and goods. Read more about Electricity cuts exacerbate dire situation in Gaza
On Friday 10 August 2007, the Hamas-affiliated Executive Force (EF) attacked two wedding parties and a civilian demonstration. It also arrested several Fatah members and a cameraman in Beit Hanoun town, northern Gaza Strip. According to investigations by Al Mezan, at approximately 5pm on Friday members of the EF arrested four of Fatah’s high ranking members in Beit Hanoun. They were identified as 41-year-old Faris Nai’m, 45-year-old Maher Abu Harbid, 40-year-old Issa Al Mughrabi, and Shihdeh Abu Zreiq. The latter is the headmaster of Hail Abdul Hamid Secondary School. Read more about Hamas force condemned for political arrests, press restrictions
Legal deliberations on the murder of UK citizen James Miller have continued since he was killed on 2 May 2003 at the border line between Gaza and Egypt. Miller and a small crew were filming in the area for a documentary on children’s lives. According to investigations by Al Mezan, then-47-year-old Miller was killed by Israeli troops at approximately 11 pm on 2 May 2003 in the al-Shair neighborhood in Rafah. He was with three other persons, including his colleagues Saira Shah and Daniel Edge, and a Palestinian interpreter, Abedul Rahman Abdullah. Read more about Rights group: Journalist's killers must be prosecuted
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) launched two air strikes on targets in the Gaza Strip yesterday. Two attacks targeted a metal workshop in the middle Gaza refugee camp of al-Maghazi, killing four Palestinians and destroying the workshop. Earlier, another attack targeted a car in south Gaza’s town of Khan Younis, killing three. According to the Center’s initial investigations, at approximately 8:10pm on Saturday, 30 June 2007, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a metal workshop in the al-Maghazi Refugee Camp when the owners and workers were inside it. Read more about New Israeli air strikes on Gaza kill seven
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) continued its offensive against Palestinians and their property in the Gaza Strip. Since the commencement of the offensive on Gaza, 50 Palestinians have been killed and 206 injured. The attacks have also resulted in the destruction of 71 houses; five of which completely, 47 security installations; and 47 commercial and industrial premises, 39 of which were completely destroyed. In addition, 13 vehicles have been also targeted; nine of which were completely destroyed. Read more about Israeli forces escalate Gaza offensive
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) continued its offensive on Gaza which started on 15 May 2007. Air strikes against Executive Force targets and other civilian facilities have been focused on Gaza City and occurred with more intensity at the late night hours. Al Mezan has documented that 47 Palestinians have been killed and 189 others injured since the start of the offensive. Dozens of homes have been destroyed or damaged from the 58 air strikes and 19 artillery and heavy machine gun attacks on different locations around the Gaza Strip. Read more about IOF offensive continues; 47 Killed and 189 wounded in Gaza
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested 33 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), cabinet and local authorities yesterday 23 May 2007. Most of those are elected officials known to be affiliated with Hamas faction. The campaign was focused in the districts of Nablus, Tulkarem, Qalqilya, Ramallah, Salfit and Hebron. This is the third detention campaign IOF carry out against Palestinian officials. On 29 June 2006 IOF arrested eight ministers and 21 PLC members and local authorities’ officials. Later on 5 August 2006, IOF arrested the president of the PLC from his house in Ramallah. Read more about Israel arbitrary detains Palestinian legislators in the West Bank