Israeli Occupation Forces Kill Four Palestinian Civilians

Palestinians sit next to the bodies of three members
from the Al-Helow family during their funeral in al-
Omari mosque in Gaza City March 23, 2011. Reuters/
Mohammed Salem

[PCHR] The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) has continued to commit war crimes in the Gaza Strip and intensified its artillery and aerial bombardment in populated areas. These bombing missions are clearly targeting Palestinian civilians. Yesterday, 22 March 2011, IOF killed four Palestinian civilians. Two children were killed. A man, his grandchild, his cousin and neighbor were also killed. Another eleven civilians, including eight children, were wounded, three seriously. These civilians were targeted while playing football near their houses in al-Shejaeya neighborhood in the east of Gaza city.

This morning, the Israeli radio quoted Israeli military sources as claiming that one of the shells veered off course and caused casualties. PCHR investigations refutes this IOF allegation. A populated area was targeted with four shells. Whether any of the shells veers off course or not, this targeting could reasonably be expected to cause civilian casualties.

According to an investigation conducted by PCHR, at approximately 15:10 on 22 March 2011, IOF positioned along the border line in the east of Gaza City fired four consecutive artillery shells at al-Nazzaz street in al-Shejaeya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. Al-Nazzaz street is approximately 2,000 meters from the border line. The first shell landed on a 2-storey house located on 150m2 belonging to Samer Walid Mushtaha. The second floor of the house was totally destroyed while the first floor was partially damaged. The second shell landed on vacant land located nearby vacant land which belongs to al-Helo family.

The third shell landed near a group of children and older boys who were playing football in a square near their houses in al-Nazzaz street. Mohammed Saber Harara, 19, and Mohammed Jalal al-Helo were immediately killed and their bodies were dismembered. Just few seconds later, the fourth shell landed near Yaser Hamed al-Helo, 51, and his grandchild Yaser Ahed al-Helo, 15, while they were trying to open the door of their garage and drive their car to rescue the wounded. They were immediately killed. Another 11 civilians, including eight children, sustained shrapnel wounds. The wounds of three civilians were described to be serious.