State of Palestine

Palestine Liberation Organization

Negotiation Affairs Department

21 August 2014

 SPECIAL REPORT GAZA UNDER FIRE

Israel’s Criminal Assault on the Occupied State of Palestine

 OVERVIEW

 Statistics after 47 days of the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip (July 6th – August 21th).

Since Israel violated the latest ceasefire and withdrew its negotiations team from the ceasefire talks in Cairo, Israeli occupation forces killed at least 48 Palestinians including women and children and injured more than 200, bringing the death toll to 2,065 and the wounded to more than 10,306.Israel’s relentless overnight bombardments lead to the killing of at least 18 Palestinians and the injury of 82. Israel continues its deliberate attacks against civilians in Gaza.  Israeli warplanes attacked Al-Kallab family home in Rafah, killing at least 7 people.

The international community must hold Israel responsible for its crimes. 

Statistics of 47 Days of Israeli Aggression against the Gaza Strip

July 6^that 00:00 AM – August 21^th at 12:00 PM[1]

•  Palestinians killed : 2,065
•  Palestinians Injured : 10,306
•  Demolished Structures: 9,600
•   Partially Demolished Structures: 7,600
•   Damaged Homes: 40,000
•   Schools Damaged : 141 Government Schools and 136 UNRWA Schools
•   Damaged Hospitals and Health Centers – 10 hospitals and 7 PHC clinics were damaged, 5 hospitals and 44 primary health clinics were closed, 16 ambulances were damaged, and 83 health personnel injured, 23 health personnel died after Israeli airstrikes.
•    Attacks against Religious Sites – 69 mosques cannot be used and 150 have been partially damaged. Ten Muslim cemeteries have been targeted. Two Churches and one Christian cemetery have been Partially Damaged.

Over 450,000 people are displaced (almost one third of the Gaza population) –1,700,000 people (the entire population of the Gaza Strip) have been affected by the destruction of electricity, water and waste water infrastructures.

Israeli disregard to the lives of Palestinians has resulted in the killing of hundreds. Instead of learning from previous experiences, some countries gave green light to Israeli forces to bombard and invade the Gaza Strip. The international community has the legal and moral responsibility to protect the Palestinian population living under Israeli occupation and to hold Israel accountable regarding its severe violations of the international humanitarian law. Lack of accountability will continue to fuel Israeli atrocities and crimes. Lack of international action will continue to increase the list of people killed, injured and displaced.

20 August 2014

  SPECIAL REPORT GAZA UNDER FIRE

Israel’s Criminal Assault on the Occupied State of Palestine

 OVERVIEW 

• Statistics after 46 days of the Israeli aggression against the Occupied Gaza Governorates (July 6th – August 20th).
• Interview by Voice of Palestine Radio with Dr. Saeb Erekat, PLO Executive Committee Member and Head of the Negotiations Affairs Department.

Just hours before the latest 24-hour ceasefire was due to end, Israeli occupation forces renewed their assault on Gaza, killing at least 12 Palestinians and injuring more than 109. While Israel, the occupying power, alleges that it was responding to three rockets launched from the Gaza districts (which supposedly landed in open areas and caused no deaths, injuries or damage), this launch  has not been confirmed and no Palestinian resistance group has claimed responsibility. Israel has used the alleged rocket fire as a pretext for continuing to target Palestinian civilians. Israeli warplanes attacked the home of the Al-Dalou family, killing at least three people, including a woman and a child. The death toll from this attack is expected to rise to six as paramedic and rescue crews continue to recover bodies trapped under the rubble. Israel also bombed the home of the Allouh family in central Gaza City, killing at least seven people, including women and children, and injuring dozens more.   

The international community must hold Israel responsible for its crimes.

Statistics of 44 Days of Israeli Aggression against the Gaza Strip

July 6^th at 00:00 AM – August 20^th at 12:00 PM[1]

•  Palestinians killed: 2,028
•  Palestinians Injured: 10,302
•  Demolished Structures: 9,600
•   Partially Demolished Structures: 7,600
•   Damaged Homes: 40,000
•   Schools Damaged: 141 Government Schools and 136 UNRWA Schools
•   Damaged Hospitals and Health Centers – 10 hospitals and 7 PHC clinics were damaged, 5 hospitals and 44 primary health clinics were closed, 16 ambulances were damaged, and 83 health personnel injured, 23 health personnel died after Israeli airstrikes.[2]
•    Attacks against Religious Sites – 69 mosques cannot be used and 150 have been partially damaged. Ten Muslim cemeteries have been targeted. Two Churches and one Christian cemetery have been Partially Damaged.

Over 450,000 people are displaced (almost one third of the Gaza population) –1,700,000 people (the entire population of the Gaza Strip) have been affected by the destruction of electricity, water and waste water infrastructures.

Israeli disregard to the lives of Palestinians has resulted in the killing of hundreds. Instead of learning from previous experiences, some countries gave green light to Israeli forces to bombard and invade the Gaza Strip. The international community has the legal and moral responsibility to protect the Palestinian population living under Israeli occupation and to hold Israel accountable regarding its severe violations of the international humanitarian law. Lack of accountability will continue to fuel Israeli atrocities and crimes. Lack of international action will continue to increase the list of people killed, injured and displaced.

• Transcription and translation of interview made by Voice of Palestine to Dr. Saeb Erekat, PLO Executive Committee Member and head of the Negotiations Affairs Department, made by Jerusalem Media and Communications Center (JMCC)

Q: Let me start with the collapse of the ceasefire, 11 martyrs and tens of injuries until now, what is the Palestinian approach now to protect our people?

The Israeli government bears responsibility for the collapse of the ceasefire, as awe said before, the Israeli delegation came to Cairo to blackmails up not to reach ceasefire, came to keep the situation as is, they don’t want anyone to save Gaza, so the Israeli government are the only side responsible for the collapse. As we said before Gaza needs a joint international effort led by the Americans and the European providing aid and support to Gaza, in addition to international protection by the UN, this should be dealt with through the Security Council immediately, I think that the worse is still to come. Netanyahu is sabotaging every effort as he did always. Strategically speaking we want an end to the occupation, so we are trying now to have an international effort through the UN to end the occupation, and establish a Palestinian sovereign state; this is the only way out of this conflict. The president will meet King Abdullah today and then head to Qatar to meet with Prince ben Hamad and Meshaal, then to Cairo, we are trying to everything to prepare for the day after.

Q: Do you think that all meetings held now by the President will result in reaching a ceasefire?

No, with regards to the ceasefire we have one united Palestinian delegation, we issued a paper to the Egyptians, this is not just  a war, but an act to destroy the Palestinian issue, so whatever we do, still Netanyahu is responsible, we only need to be united towards our goal, ending the occupation and establishing a Palestinian state.

Q: Was you visit to Moscow regarding the international conference?

The visit to Moscow was about consultation with our Russian friends, but the Russians are right when they say they don’t want just a conference but something concrete with a deadline, tin order to have a serious conference with results.