View mobile site 1 In 5 Of Gaza Dead Are Children
| By KARIN LAUB and YOUSUR ALHLOU
BEIT LAHIYA, Gaza Strip (AP) — Sobbing and shaking, Ismail Abu Musallam leaned against the wall of a hospital Friday, waiting for three of his children to be prepared for burial. They were killed as they slept when an Israeli tank shell hit their home, burying 11-year-old Ahmed, 14-year-old Walaa and 16-year-old Mohammed under debris in their beds.
His personal tragedy is not unique: the U.N. says minors make up one-fifth of the 299 Palestinians killed in 11 days of intense Israeli bombardment of the densely populated Gaza Strip, where half the 1.7 million people are under age 18.
The Israeli military says it's doing its utmost to spare civilians by urging residents to leave areas that are about to be shelled or bombed as Hamas targets. It accuses the Islamic militants of using civilians as human shields by firing rockets from civilian areas.
But even if urged to evacuate, most Gazans have no safe place to go, rights activists say.
"If you are going to attack civilian structures in densely populated areas, of course you are going to see children killed," said Bill Van Esveld, a researcher for New York-based Human Rights Watch.
Seventy-one of those killed since fighting began on July 8 were under 18, according to an Associated Press count based on information provided by Palestinian health official Ashraf al-Kidra. Forty-eight of the victims were under the age of 13.
Many of the children were killed in their own homes.
Early Friday, a 5-month-old baby boy was hit by shrapnel from a missile strike near his family compound in the southern town of Rafah. A day earlier, two brothers and a cousin were killed by shrapnel while feeding pigeons on the roof of their home.
One deadly incident drew particular outrage. Four cousins, aged 9 to 11, had been playing on the beach near Gaza City's harbor on Wednesday when a missile fired from an Israeli gunboat hit a nearby shack. The boys fled, but were killed in a second missile strike.
The images of small, bloodied bodies lying face down in the sand triggered harsh international criticism, including from U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon who said Israel must "do far more to stop civilian casualties."
The Israeli military said Hamas operatives were the target, and promised to investigate.
Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a military spokesman, said Friday that "Israel's efforts to try to minimize civilian casualties are unprecedented in the Western world," referring to its system of delivering evacuation warnings through text messages, automated calls and leaflets dropped from planes.
He said more than a dozen attacks were aborted when civilians were spotted in the area.
"Unfortunately, the Hamas infrastructure placed itself intentionally between the civilian population," he said.
In recent days, Israel repeatedly urged people living near the border with Israel to leave their homes. As it later turned out, this was in part in preparation for the ground offensive Israel launched late Thursday, sending in thousands of troops.
Border areas, including the northern town of Beit Lahiya, came under heavy shelling attack. Across Gaza, the heavy thuds of tank fire could be heard through the night from Thursday to Friday, often just seconds apart.
Like many in Beit Lahiya, Abu Musallam decided to remain in his apartment with his wife and seven children even as their neighborhood came under intense artillery fire.
Eventually, the children went to sleep. The oldest, Mohammed, was in one room, and little Ahmed and his sister Walaa in another, the 40-year-old carpenter said.
At some point in the night, a tank shell hit the apartment, burying the three children under debris. Abu Musallam said he had to call for help to pull them from the wreckage. They were taken to a local hospital where each was wrapped in a white shroud and placed in the morgue's refrigerator. Ahmed's face was blackened from soot.
Surrounded at the hospital by a throng of relatives and his 15-year-old son Omar, the bereaved father fought back tears Friday, as he spoke about his children. He said Mohammed had worked with him in his carpentry workshop and that Ahmed was a kind boy.
The sadness then turned to anger.
"We are with the resistance," he said, referring to Hamas militants who helped provoke the Israeli assault by firing more than 1,500 rockets at Israel in close to two weeks. "Three children died and I can offer another three just to give Palestine its freedom."
Nearby, young boys hanging outside the hospital tried to sound street-wise and unfazed by the death around them.
Fourteen-year-old Yousef Aliyan said he had walked from his nearby home to watch dead and wounded being brought to the hospital. He's not afraid, he said.
"This is not the first time we came under shelling attack," he said. "I'm used to it."
___
Alhlou reported from Jerusalem.
The Israeli government warned foreign journalists that it would not be responsible for their safety in the Gaza strip, issuing a statement on Saturday that said, "Gaza and its vicinity are a battleground. Covering the hostilities exposes journalists to life-threatening danger," Reuters reports.
HuffPost reporter Sophia Jones tweeted a photo of the email sent by the Israeli Press Office to journalists.
Text of email from Israeli press office warning journos reporting in Gaza pic.twitter.com/CgXpkXglFI
— Sophia Jones (@Sophia_MJones) July 19, 2014
Israeli press office just emailed journos saying Hamas uses "journalists as human shields" and Israel isn't responsible for journo deaths.
— Sophia Jones (@Sophia_MJones) July 19, 2014
On Friday, The Committee to Protect Journalists reported that at least three journalists had been injured by Israeli airstrikes during the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants.
-- Andrew Hart
Just in case you're not fixated on Malaysian Airlines, it appears there is a major battle going on in Shaja'ia, east of #Gaza City.
— benwedeman (@bencnn) July 19, 2014
Eric Trager reports that a Hamas rocket from Gaza has landed in the Rafah border crossing with Israel, injuring 2 Egyptian soldiers.
Hamas rocket lands in Rafah crossing, injures 2 Egyptian soldiers: http://t.co/aZwA8Jq4tl Hamas' #Egypt problem worsens. (ht @oritperlov)
— Eric Trager (@EricTrager18) July 19, 2014
Multiple reports of heavy bombing in Gaza right now.
Large columns of smoke, flashes, explosions in Shaja'ia, Tufah neighbourhoods getting seriously pounded. #Gaza City
— benwedeman (@bencnn) July 19, 2014
#Gaza midnight...heavy #Israel bombardment neighbourhoods east of Gaza City
— lyse doucet (@bbclysedoucet) July 19, 2014
It's hard to quantify, to put into words the amount of fire power we're witnessing near the border with #Gaza
— Ian Lee (@ianjameslee) July 19, 2014
Haaretz reports that right-wing extremists have tried to attack a leftist protest demonstrating against the Israeli invasion in Gaza in Tel Aviv. There were also reports of clashes between the protesters and police.
Racist protesters and police are now beating one another in central Tel Aviv v @antifaActive972
— Elizabeth Tsurkov (@Elizrael) July 19, 2014
A protest in Haifa turned into violence as well. There were reports of extremist attacks on two buses of Palestinian-Israeli protesters in the northern city of Haifa.
Two buses of Palestinian-Israeli protesters were attacked on their way to Haifa by racists & prevented from attending the protest.
— Elizabeth Tsurkov (@Elizrael) July 19, 2014
Anti-war protesters are surround by racists in Haifa. They are cursing the Arab protesters "your sisters are whores" via @chickos99
— Elizabeth Tsurkov (@Elizrael) July 19, 2014
Israeli police raided the home of 15-year-old Tariq Abu Khdeir early Friday, just hours after the Palestinian-American teenager left for Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport to return home to Tampa, Florida.
Abu Khdeir, whose brutal beating at the hands of Israeli security forces was captured on camera, had been under house arrest in East Jerusalem. He was released on Thursday after pressure from the U.S. State Department and an ABC interview, wherein he defended his presence at a protest of the murder of his cousin, Muhammad Abu Khdeir, who was burned alive.
According to Hassan Shibly, Abu Khdeir's legal counsel and the director of the Florida branch of the Council on American–Islamic Relations, Israeli police burst into the family home in Shufat on Friday and destroyed furniture and emptied cabinets. Shibly said the police then arrested and detained Abu Khdeir's uncle and two other cousins without charges.
Read the full story here.
-- Igor Bobic
So far today, 62 people in #Gaza have been killed, the highest daily death toll so far. And the day has 2 hours left. #Palestine #Israel
— benwedeman (@bencnn) July 19, 2014
The Israeli Press office emailed journalists in Gaza the following message:
GPO Advisory to Journalists Covering Operation Protective Edge from the Gaza Strip
(Communicated by the GPO)Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza continue to attack Israel's civilian population. They have fired over 1,800 rockets at Israel's towns and cities, putting five million of our citizens – men, women and children – in bomb shelters. They have infiltrated Israel by sea and tunnel in an attempt to murder and kidnap Israelis.
In response to these attacks and Hamas' repeated rejection of cease-fire proposals, the IDF began a ground operation in Gaza on Thursday night.
The GPO is doing everything in its power to provide the foreign press with timely information and to facilitate access.
Nevertheless, we wish to stress that Gaza and its vicinity are a battleground. Covering the hostilities exposes journalists to life-threatening danger (and involves risk to equipment).
As part of Hamas' strategy of hiding behind the civilian population it has frequently exploited journalists as human shields, deliberately putting them at risk of injury or death.
Israel is not in any way responsible for injury or damage that may occur as a result of field reporting.
The GPO advises the members of the press to take every possible precaution. Journalists in need of assistance should contact the GPO to facilitate expedited passage from the Erez crossing.
Be safe in your mission.
--Sophia Jones
NBC correspondent Richard Engel reports that Israel has warned Turkey, the Palestinian Authority and Egypt that it will move to a third stage if Hamas does not accept a ceasefire by Monday.
A Palestinian source told NBC Israel has told Turkey, PA, Egypt: if Hamas does not accept ceasefire by Mon, Israel will go to 3rd stage.
— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) July 19, 2014
Get a sense of what the incessant Israeli bombardment of Gaza feels like in this piece by @SherineT http://t.co/DKW2wjCvCQ
— Sharif Kouddous (@sharifkouddous) July 19, 2014
Heavy shelling from the sea has started in northern #Gaza #skybreaking
— Sherine Tadros (@SherineT) July 19, 2014
Jodi Rudoren reports that two Israeli soldiers have been killed by Palestinian militants who infiltrated Israel through a tunnel. Destroying the tunnels on Gaza's border is one of the main objectives of Israel's campaign in the Palestinian enclave.
2 Israeli soldiers, one a 45 yr old reservist, were killed by Palestinian militants who infiltrated Israel this am thru tunnel, acc to IDF
— Jodi Rudoren (@rudoren) July 19, 2014
Reuters reports that clashes have erupted between police and pro-Palestinian protesters in Paris.
A Reuters photographer said demonstrators in northern Paris had launched projectiles at riot police, who responded by firing teargas canisters.
President Francois Hollande said earlier that he had asked his interior minister to ban protests that could turn violent after demonstrators marched on two synagogues in Paris last weekend and clashed with riot police.
In London, too, protesters took to the streets to denounce Israel's military action in Gaza.
HuffPost UK reports:
Up to 15,000 people are thought to have marched through the capital from Downing Street to the Israeli embassy in Kensington after Israel launched a ground invasion of Gaza on Thursday.
This was the latest and one of the more peaceful demonstrations as rallies take place across the globe in recent days.
Sarah Colborne, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said London has "already shown its outrage at Israel's attacks on the mostly refugee population of Gaza, with people turning out in their thousands last week.
"Today's national demonstration will give people from across the country the chance to say enough is enough, Israel's siege of Gaza and its occupation of Palestinian land has to end now.
Read the full story here.
Thousands of French demonstrators participated in marches to condemn violence in Gaza on Saturday, defying a protest ban. Rallies were held in the capital Paris and a dozen other cities. (JACQUES DEMARTHON/AFP/Getty Images)
Man killed in rocket strike on Negev Bedouin community http://t.co/G6sle0243D
— Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) July 19, 2014
Palestinian civilians in Gaza's north, south, and center have been instructed by Israel's military to evacuate ahead of military operations. Many residents say there is nowhere else to go, or they just don't see a point.
-- Sophia Jones
According to Chris Gunness, the spokesperson for UNRWA, the UN agency that aids Palestinian refugees: "The number of displaced Palestinians seeking shelter in UNRWA schools in Gaza doubled in the last 36 hours. Now stands at over 50,000. This is the same level as during the Gaza conflict in 2008/9. It is rising."
-- Sophia Jones
Tamar El-Ghobashy reports the death toll in Gaza has grown to 333 Palestinians. Two Israelis have been killed as well.
Civilian death toll on 12th day of war in Gaza and parts of Israel has grown to 333 Palestinians and 2 Israelis.
— Tamer El-Ghobashy (@TamerELG) July 19, 2014
Overwhelming theme of recent interviews with people who've fled, or stayed put: "We have nowhere else to go. Nowhere is safe." #Gaza
— Sophia Jones (@Sophia_MJones) July 19, 2014
Palestinian mourners cry as the body of one of the three members of the Inteiz family is brought into the family house during their funeral, in the Shajaiyeh neighborhood of Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, Friday, July 18, 2014. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
Reuters reports:
Israeli forces on Saturday pressed ahead with a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, where Palestinian militants kept firing rockets deep into Israel's heartland, pushing the death toll past 300 in almost two weeks of conflict.
Palestinian officials said 65 Palestinians, at least 15 of them under the age of 18, have been killed since Israel sent ground forces on Thursday into the densely populated enclave of 1.8 million Palestinians.
Read Reuters report here.
-- Andrew Hart
A pipeline carrying water to 150,000 Gazans has been down and a ruptured sewage pipe is contaminating water, the head of the Gaza Water Authority said. Reporting for the New York Times, Anne Barnard tweeted news of the growing water concerns afflicting the region in the grips of the 11-day conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Sewage, from blasted pipe unrepaired for days bc of danger to workers, is contaminating Gaza water: Gaza water authority head Monzer Shublaq
— Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) July 18, 2014
Pipeline supplying 150,000 Gazans with water has also been down for days after strike, & damaged sewage plant is dumping into the sea.
— Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) July 18, 2014
Gaza water authority says repairs await Israel's response to its 5-pt proposal to protect workers as they fix damage from Israeli strikes
— Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) July 18, 2014
-- Andrew Hart
Three Israeli soldiers were injured in a gun battle with Palestinian forces in the northern Gaza Strip Friday night, Haaretz reports. The Jerusalem Post also reported the the injuries with confirmation from an Israel Defense Force spokesperson.
-- Andrew Hart
According to the United Nations, one fifth of the Palestinians killed since Israel launched an offensive against the Gaza enclave 11 days ago are children.
The Associated Press reports:
Border areas, including the northern town of Beit Lahiya, came under heavy shelling attack. Across Gaza, the heavy thuds of tank fire could be heard through the night from Thursday to Friday, often just seconds apart.
Like many in Beit Lahiya, Abu Musallam decided to remain in his apartment with his wife and seven children even as their neighborhood came under intense artillery fire.
Eventually, the children went to sleep. The oldest, Mohammed, was in one room, and little Ahmed and his sister Walaa in another, the 40-year-old carpenter said.
At some point in the night, a tank shell hit the apartment, burying the three children under debris. Abu Musallam said he had to call for help to pull them from the wreckage. They were taken to a local hospital where each was wrapped in a white shroud and placed in the morgue's refrigerator. Ahmed's face was blackened from soot.
Surrounded at the hospital by a throng of relatives and his 15-year-old son Omar, the bereaved father fought back tears Friday, as he spoke about his children. He said Mohammed had worked with him in his carpentry workshop and that Ahmed was a kind boy.
The sadness then turned to anger.
Read more here.
The Committee to Protect Journalists says at least 3 reporters have been injured in Israeli airstrikes.
"The Israel Defense Forces know where media outlets are located in Gaza and must ensure that they are not hit as part of its offensive," said CPJ Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator Sherif Mansour. "Attacking media outlets is a violation of international law and denies journalists their right to protection as civilians in war zone."
Read CPJ's full statement here.
Reuters reports that Palestinian officials have put the death toll of the Israeli invasion in Gaza at 58 now. At least 15 of the dead were under the age of 18.
CNN's Ben Wedeman reports on new figures from the Ministry of Health in Gaza:
Since ground invasion commenced 24 hours ago, #Gaza death toll is 52, per Ministry of Health. #Palestine #Israel
— benwedeman (@bencnn) July 18, 2014
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — In the first full day of Israel's ground assault into Gaza on Friday, airstrikes rained down on targets in the tiny Mediterranean coastal strip and Hamas rockets streaked through the sky toward Israel. Caught between them, civilians sought shelter from the violence and buried their loved ones.
Here is a collection of images from the conflict.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will travel to the Middle East to help broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
UN undersecretary Feltman: UN @secgen will depart to Israel tomorrow to help cease-fire efforts
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) July 18, 2014