UN: 202 Palestinians killed since operation 'Summer Rain'

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"A new United Nations report claims that Israel Defense Forces soldiers have killed 202 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since the start of the Operation "Summer Rain," launched in the wake of the abduction of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit in June.

The report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the territories also says that 44 children are among the dead.

The authors of the report claim that the military operation, which has lasted about two months, is still taking a severe toll on 1.4 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

According to the report, thousands of Palestinians have been forced to flee their homes following continuing IDF incursions into the Strip and heavy shelling. The report states that since the operation began, the Israel Air Force has conducted 247 aerial assaults in Gaza."

more

Not to mention "...thousands of Palestinians have been forced to flee their homes following continuing IDF incursions into the Strip and heavy shelling."
The crimes are not limited to Lebanon, apparently...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/27/AR2006082700768.html

This is worth a read- no one in the world will help the Palestinians- a whole population in some kind of perverted slavery.

HR Organisations Appeal to Israeli Court to Order Opening of Crossings


TEL AVIV, August 29, 2006, (WAFA)- Six human rights organisations submitted an urgent request to the Israeli Supreme Court to order the Minister of Defense to open the crossings into the Gaza Strip for the regular human supplies.

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR)- Israel stated Wednesday that the urgent request was submitted after no decision has been issued in a court petition heard in the middle of July, by Justices Aharon Barak, Dorit Beinish and Eliezer Rivlin.

The petition and the request were filed by Adv. Azem Bishara from the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) and Adv. Sari Bashi, Executive Director of Gisha, on behalf of: ACRI, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, HaMoked: Center for the Defense of the Individual, B'tselem, Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) and Gisha.

PHR- Israel added that the urgent request was filed today in light of severe shortages in Gaza caused by Israel's closure of the crossings into Gaza. Israel maintains complete control over the passage of goods into the Gaza Strip.

Since 15 August 2006, the request notes, Israel has completely prevented the entrance of supplies via Karni (al-Muntar) Crossing, including food, fuel, spare parts, and construction materials.

http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?id=7326

Palestinian death toll reaches 202 as 'Operation Summer Rains' extends into its tenth week
The nearly two-month long Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip continues to exact a heavy toll on the 1.4 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip. Two hundred and two (202) Palestinians, including 44 children have been killed since 28 June, when 'Operation Summer Rains' (the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) name for the offensive) began. One IDF soldier has been killed and 26 Israelis injured in the same period.

Thousands of Palestinians have been forced to flee their homes due to repeated ground incursions and intensive shelling by the IDF. Since 28 June, the Israel Air Force (IAF) launched at leas100t 267 air strikes attacks on the Gaza Strip. Only a limited amount of humanitarian aid has reached the Gaza Strip in the last ten days following the complete closure of main Karni crossing point. However, according to WFP, all food commodities are available in the market although there is a shortage of milk powder due to the closure of the crossings.

Approximately 120 Palestinian structures including houses, workshops and greenhouses have been destroyed and another 160 damaged by the Israeli military since the beginning of the current operation. According to UNDP, electricity networks and bridges have been the hardest hit. UNDP estimates the cost to the electricity networks at US$ 1.8 million. Destruction of civilian infrastructure, including the Gaza Power Plant, remains un-repaired, leaving more than a million people with only limited access to power and water.

The increasingly unpredictable and volatile atmosphere in which the UN and other humanitarian agencies are now operating in the Gaza Strip was illustrated by the kidnapping of two international journalists ten days ago by a previously unknown group of Palestinian militants.

The IDF operation was launched three days after Palestinian militants attacked an IDF observation post at Kerem Shalom and captured one IDF soldier. Violence had been on the increase prior to this attack. Two IDF soldiers and two Palestinian militants were also killed in the attack and four other IDF soldiers injured. Israel has stated that it would continue its operations until its soldier is released and Palestinian militants cease firing rockets towards Israel.

Key developments since the last Situation Report on 7 August:

Eighteen (18) Palestinians were killed, two of them children, and 87 injured since 8 August. One IDF solider has been injured in the same period.

No humanitarian aid has passed through Karni crossing since 15 August which has been closed for security reasons according to the IDF. On 23 August, Sufa crossing opened as an alternative entry point for humanitarian aid and food supplies.

No Palestinians were allowed to leave the Gaza Strip either into Israel or across to the West Bank; only a limited amount of commercial goods have left the Gaza Strip and the import of construction materials vital to the rebuilding of infrastructure continued to be denied.

Two international journalists were kidnapped in Gaza city on 14 August. A previously unknown militant group calling itself the "Holy Jihad Brigades" claimed responsibility and set a deadline of 26 August for the release of Muslim prisoners in the USA in exchange for their captives. Government workers have gone on strike in protest at the nonpayment of PA salaries. Gaza school teachers are also threatening not to turn up for the new school year which begins on 2 September.

Developments in detail:

Military operations

The number of incursions declined during the reporting period, although IDF artillery shelling into open areas of the Gaza Strip and IAF air strikes on houses belonging to alleged militants has continued. The IDF has continued the practice of warning families by telephone to evacuate their residence prior to an air strike. This practice continues to result in the repeated evacuation of entire neighbourhoods forcing Palestinian residents to abandon their property and personal belongings in panic; in some cases, strikes never take place.

The number of artillery shells fired by the IDF decreased in the last few weeks. Since 9 August, a total of approximately 185 artillery shells have been fired compared to an average of 200-250 per day in previous periods. Since 28 June, Palestinian militants have fired on average six homemade rockets per day into Israel, injuring 11 Israelis. However, the number of homemade rockets fired has also decreased in the last few weeks.

Between 22 – 23 August, the IDF entered the eastern section of Gaza City near Karni crossing and the area of Khuzaa conducting house-to-house searches. Search and arrest operations were also recorded in the areas of Nahal Oz (23 August) and Beit Hanoun industrial area (16-17 August).

IDF incursions with tanks and bulldozers took place also in Al Yahuddiya (18 and 21 August), As Shoka (15 August) and Abu Al Ajeen area (14 August) resulting in land levelling and the demolition of 10 buildings.

Crossing points and humanitarian access

Erez crossing remains partially open to diplomats and medical cases with permits. No Palestinian workers have been allowed through since 12 March. Attacks on IDF observation posts at Erez took place on 15 and 18 August.

Karni crossing, the principal goods terminal, has remained closed since 15 August for all consignments, including humanitarian aid. UNRWA has reported today that the shortages of food, fuel and construction supplies are jeopardising every element of their operations in the Gaza Strip. UNRWA has 123 empty containers waiting to leave Gaza; 13 full containers have been cleared in Ashdod port but are unable to enter the Gaza Strip due to the closure. UNRWA reports "it requires urgently 2,000 tonnes of cement for upgrading and reconstruction of critical infrastructure (health centres and schools)". The Municipality of Gaza requires urgently 30 truckloads of pipes to improve the sewage system.

Rafah remains closed for regular movement but was open on 10, 11 and 19 August for limited movement. According to EU BAM, over 6,600 people crossed into Egypt and 310 people entered the Gaza Strip on these three days.

Sufa opened on 23 August for the import of humanitarian aid and food supplies. PalTrade reports that 56 trucks loaded with 649 tonnes of different food commodities crossed between 3am and 7:30pm on 23 August. Sufa remained open on 24 August.

The fishing industry has been paralysed by the complete ban imposed by the IDF on fishing grounds off the Gaza Strip for over 50 days. On 14 August, the General Syndicate of Marine Fishers requested the assistance of the international community to support the needs of the fishermen and their families – there are almost 3,000 licensed fishermen in the Gaza Strip, most support sizeable families. Assistance was requested specifically in view of the new school year to cover the extra expense for clothes, stationary and other school-related needs.

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/LSGZ-6SZGFB?OpenDocument

people when the world ignores the misery that is happening in Gaza.

There are currently debates raging in other threads over trivialities.
Need to keep this one kicked.

They can open up their common border to allow the palestenains to import export food/goods/aid to Europe and the Arab markets.....nothing physical standing in the way....

a UN report has already recommended that......

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"An Israeli human rights group has accused the country's military of a surge in abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank over the past two months, when media attention was turned to conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.

B'Tselem, an independent body that monitors Israeli actions in the Palestinian territories, said it had gathered evidence of a "substantial increase" in the beating, abuse and humiliation of Palestinians by Israeli soldiers and border police.

It said the increase occurred since the end of June, when Israeli forces launched an operation against militants in Gaza following the abduction of an Israeli soldier, and continued during the 34-day war against Hizbollah in Lebanon."

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"While B'Tselem said it believed restrictions on the movement of Palestinians in the West Bank lay at the root of the violence, the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon appeared to have opened the way to an increase in abuses "in the shadow of war".

"Reports on the extensive casualties that Hizbollah caused among Israeli civilians and soldiers aggravated the rage and frustration of security forces, which they expressed in increased aggression towards Palestinians," B'Tselem said."

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L29840127.htm

UNICEF action in Gaza - update as of 29 August 2006

BACKGROUND
Life has deteriorated dramatically for children since hostilities broke out in Gaza. The number of children killed in July alone (36) is among the highest monthly child death tolls since the beginning of the Intifada in September 2000. While conditions have long been precarious in Gaza, the current escalation of violence is debilitating the Strip.

Children are living in an environment of extraordinary violence and insecurity. Caregivers report signs of acute distress among children. Children are afraid to play outdoors and have suffered from being confined to their homes during a summer with few opportunities for outdoor activities. UNICEF-supported psychosocial counseling teams are responding to a substantial increase in the number of requests for assistance.

With little or no access in and out of Gaza, the strip is cut off economically from the outside world. This not only creates shortages of food and fuel but amplifies already high poverty levels. Electricity is scarce and unreliable, significantly impacting all aspects of daily life. Stocks of essential medicines are at critical levels, and health facilities are struggling to provide adequate care. The spread of communicable disease remains a potent threat.

These new challenges arise in a social-economic context wherein most government employees, including workers in the health, education and social sector, have received little pay for six months.

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/AMMF-6T6D3W?OpenDocument