Palestinian Children

May 13, 2021: Ahmad Rami Mahmoud al-Hawajri, 15, was returning home from the grocery store around 3:20 p.m. when an Israeli fighter jet targeted a residential building in the heart of the densely populated Al-Bureij refugee camp in Central Gaza, according to documentation gathered by Defense for Children International. Ahmad was killed in the attack. He was struck in the head with shrapnel and sustained burns all over his body.

He was one of 36 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on May 13th.

In one of the many Israeli airstrikes during the night of May 13th, in Beit Lahia, in northern Gaza, three sisters in their early twenties, one of whom was pregnant, were killed along with their father in an Israeli airstrike.

In the airstrike that killed the three sisters, 27 civilians were wounded, including 6 women and 10 children, while 3 houses sheltering 91 civilians, including 24 women and 41 children, were completely destroyed, and nearby houses sustained partial damage.

The all-night-long bombardment of the Gaza Strip targeted homes, apartment towers, and infrastructure, killing 36 Palestinians, and injuring hundreds, in addition to turning many homes and buildings into rubble.

Among those killed in the overnight airstrikes were two entire families who were bombed while in their homes. Rafat Mohammad at-Tanani, 39, his pregnant wife and four young children, were in their home in Beit Hanoun town when the Israeli army bombed the area without any warning. The entire residential square was destroyed, including the family’s home. Ra’fat Tanani, 39, his pregnant wife Rawiye, 35, and their children Ismail, 6, Ameer, 5, Adham, 4, and Mohammad, 3, were all killed.

The same night that the Tanani family was killed in the north of Gaza Strip coincided with killing another family in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis.

The family consisted of five members –all of them died including a one-year-old infant identified as Ibrahim. The father survived.

The Israeli air force also fired missiles into a residential tower in the Remal neighborhood, west of Gaza city, turning it into rubble, and causing excessive damage to surrounding homes and buildings.

A child, identified as Hala Hussein Rafat ar-Reefy, 14, was among many killed by Israeli missiles in Gaza city.

In addition, the army fired missiles, on Thursday evening, at a home in the al-Boreij refugee camp, in central Gaza, killing at least two Palestinians and wounding many others.

Furthermore, a child identified as Khaled Emad al-Qanou’, 16, was killed and eight were injured in an Israeli bombardment of Abraj an-Nada residential tower in Beit Lahia, in northern Gaza.

On Thursday at dawn, the Israeli air force fired a barrage a missile into the area of Bin Zayed Junction, in northern Gaza, causing excessive damage, in addition to killing at least two, and injuring dozens. Many more are believed to be dead and buried under the rubble while rescue teams continue efforts to locate them, however, the efforts and severely hindered by the Israeli bombardment.

The Israeli army also fired dozens of missiles into homes and lands in Abasan al-Kabeera area, east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, the Tuffah, Sheikh Radwan and Sheja’eyya in Gaza city, causing casualties and serious damage.

Homes were also shelled in Jabalia refugee camp, in northern Gaza, and Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza Strip.

Two Palestinians, identified as Abdul-Rahim Mohammad al-Madhoun, 63, and Hajar Abdul-Razeq al-Madhoun, 60, were killed in the Jabalia refugee camp.

Medical services in Gaza have reported that twenty-two Palestinians were killed by Israeli missiles and shells, Thursday, in a series of Israeli strikes across the coastal region.

Another Palestinian, identified as Osama Jamal Zibda, 33, was killed in an Israeli bombardment of Beit Hanoun. His father, Jamal Mohammad Zibda, 65, was killed a day earlier.

On Thursday evening, the Palestinian Health Ministry said eighty-seven Palestinians, including eighteen children, have been killed and 530 have been injured due to the ongoing Israeli strikes on Gaza.

In addition, a child, identified as Lina Fathi Sharir, 16, was killed in an Israeli bombing in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza city, Wednesday. Her father Eyad Fathi Fayeq Sharir, 35, was instantly killed.

On the same day, a child identified as Yahia Mazen Khalifa, 14, was killed in an Israeli bombardment of homes in Gaza city.

The Israeli missiles and shells have resulted in the destruction of more than 500 units, and damage to at least 2100 units.

The Israeli army targeted 14 residential towers with its missiles, in addition to firing missiles at 23 media centers, dozens of institutions, societies, and offices, in addition to 58 government-run centers, such as police stations, security centers, and service centers.

During the 11-day Israeli assault on Gaza between May 10th and 21st, 2021, 247 Palestinians were killed, including 66 children and 39 women; 1417 wounded, including 277 women and 412 children. 9 Israelis, including 2 children, were killed during the same time period. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, which documented these attacks, has called upon the international Criminal Court to open an investigation into the occupation’s crimes during this military aggression, and reiterates its call upon the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfil their obligations under Article 1; i.e., to respect and ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances and their obligations under Article 146 to prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention. These grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and Protocol (I) Additional to the Geneva Conventions regarding the guarantee of Palestinian civilians’ right to protection in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (West Bank, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights).

Faiza was from the al-Boreij refugee camp, in central Gaza. Source: DCI – P

May 12, 2021: Zaid Mohammed ‘Odah al-Telbani, 5, and his sister Mariam, 3, were killed along with their mother by a missile that struck their home in Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, in Gaza City. They were among at least twenty Palestinians killed on May 12th during the third straight day of ongoing bombardment and shelling targeting all parts of the besieged and impoverished Gaza Strip. The Israeli missiles struck homes, residential buildings, infrastructure, streets, and many other facilities.

Zaid was killed along with his mother, Rima and his sister at approximately 01:35, when Israeli warplanes launched 2 missiles at a 4-storey residential building next to al-Yaziji Bakery in Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in Gaza city.

Those killed were identified as Rima Sa’ed Kamel Sa’ed “al-Telbani” (31), her 5-year-old child Zaid Mohammed ‘Odah al-Telbani, Wael ‘Abdel Karim ‘Ali ‘Issa (41); Hasan Mohammed ‘Ali al-Qahwaji (43) and Hala Hussein Ra’fat al-Rifi (13), who was killed in the building adjacent to the targeted building. The dead body of Maryan al-Telbani (3) was not recovered.

At approximately 05:55, Israeli warplanes continuously carried out dozens of airstrikes on various areas in Gaza city, most prominently targeting and destroying al-Jawazat Security Headquarter in al-Remal neighborhood in central Gaza City, causing severe damage to the nearby UNRWA schools, roads and streets. They also targeted and completely destroyed the Interior Security headquarter in Ansar Compound and al-Rawdah 7-storey building on al-Abraj Street near the PRCS Emergency and Ambulances Services headquarter; as a result, the nearby buildings sustained damage, including al-Azhar Buildings (4) and (5); al-Sa’adah Building (1) and the Youth and Sports buildings, as well as the roads leading to the area. Moreover, a security building near the Public Prosecution building next to the Islamic University was targeted and completely destroyed.

Israeli warplanes also targeted and completely destroyed the Interior Ministry’s Expatriates Registration offices in the ground floors of al-Sousi (B) 14-storey building on al-Sena’ah Street, west of Gaza City. As a result, the building sustained severe damage as well as al-Sousi (A) building and the vehicles parked under the 2 buildings. Additionally, the UNRWA Main Operations Head offices next to the 2 buildings sustained severe damage as well as the roads and streets.

At approximately 10:40, medical sources declared the death of Hamzah Mahmoud Yasin ‘Ali (12) after he succumbed to wounds he sustained in an Israeli airstrike in al- Shuja’iyya neighborhood.

At approximately 11:30, Israeli warplanes launched a missile at a civilian white Skoda car traveling on al-Moghrabi Street in central Gaza City. As a result, 6 were killed, including the driver, a man and his wife who were inside the car, a civilian in front of his house and 2 other passers-by. Those killed were identified as the driver Mustafa Mazen Salem Kurdiyah (22); Sa’id Hashim Sa’id al-Hatu (67) and his wife Maysoun Zaki Hashem al-Hatou (55); Mansour Yousif Hasan al-Dreimly (66), who was in front of his house in the area; and Nader Mohammed al-Ghazali (47) along with his nephew ‘Abdulsalam Mahmoud Nabih al-Ghazali (28), who were also from the same area. Moreover, the children of Sa’id al-Hatou, Mohammed and Yara, were wounded.

At approximately 11:30, Israeli warplanes launched 4 missiles at Khaled Ahmed Yaser al-Namrouti’s (50) house in al-Sheikh Redwan neighborhood near an UNRWA Clinic. As a result, the 3-story house (250 sqms) was completely destroyed. It should be noted that one of the neighbors received a phone call from the Israeli Intelligence Services ordering him to inform the residents of other houses to evacuate only few minutes before the airstrike.

At approximately 12:00, Israeli warplanes launched 2 missiles at a residential building belonging to Majed Hamed Bakir al-Yazji (63) in al-Manarah neighborhood on al-Nafaq street. As a result, the 3-story house (750 sqms) was completely destroyed. The ground floor is an electric appliances factory where Majed al-Yazji, his 3 sons, and 10 other workers work while 4 families, including 9 children and 4 women, lived in the house. The building’s owner said that he received a phone call from a private number ordering him to evacuate the house.

At approximately 14:20, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a civilian grey car while traveling in al-Sha’af neighborhood in eastern Gaza City. As a result, Izz al-Dein Mohammed Abdullah Hillis (28) was killed, and his brother, Ashraf (48), was wounded.

At approximately 16:00, Israeli warplanes launched 6 missiles at “al-Weqa’ie al-Gharbiya” residential building on al-Mokhabarat Street. As a result, the 5-storey building, which included 10 residential apartments, was completely destroyed while the nearby shops and buildings sustained severe damage. Moreover, Layalina wedding hall, comprised of 2 floors and located next to the targeted building, sustained damage. The building’s owner said that he received a phone call from a private number ordering him to evacuate the house.

At approximately 18:30, Israeli warplanes launched 10 missiles at al-Shorouq 14-storey tower on Omar al-Mukhtar Street in al-Rimal neighborhood, which is considered one the most vital areas in the Gaza Strip. As a result, the tower was completely destroyed, and the surrounding buildings and shops sustained severe damage. It should be noted that al-Shorouq tower housed various media outlets and civilian institutions, including Al-Hayat al-Jadida Newspaper, Al-Aqsa TV and Al-Aqsa Radio, Taiff Media institution, and media production company PMP.

At approximately 19:25, an Israeli warplane launched a missile in front of Ahmed Ibrahim Ahmed Abu Sakran’s (56) house in al-Shuja’iya neighborhood, where a number of civilians were gathering before al-Maghreb Adhan in the last day of Ramadan. As a result, the house owner and his relative namely Mohammed Nahed Jaber Abu Sakran (24), were killed, while ‘Ali Hisham Ahmed Abu Sakran (8) was wounded and his condition was described serious by medical sources at al-Shifa Hospital.

At approximately 21:15, Israeli warplanes launched 2 missiles at Salah al-Deen Street in front of al-‘Ijlah Meat Shop in al-Zaytun neighborhood in southern Gaza City. As a result, Yahiya Mazen Shehada Khalifa (14) was killed with shrapnel that hit different parts of his body as he was in front of his house. Moreover, 4-storey building sustained severe damage.

At approximately 21:30, Israeli warplanes sporadically launched 24 missiles at main streets and vital roads. They targeted al-Saraya Intersection on Omar al-Mukhtar Street, Abu Khadra Intersection and the Shari’a Court Street in the central Gaza City. As a result, the area, which include public facilities, residential buildings and governmental institutions, sustained severe damage.

At approximately 21:30, Israeli warplanes launched 10 missiles at the main road which connects Tal al-Hawa neighborhood with al-Zaytun neighborhood and targeted the street next to Alaa’ al-Dein petrol station and the Rosary Sisters School on Street “8”. Additionally, Mazen Foqaha football field sustained severe damage. It should be noted that the Israeli warplanes continued launching missiles sporadically until 03:00.

These were all attacks carried out by the Israeli military on May 12th, 2021 against the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.

During the Israeli aggression in Gaza from May 10th to 21st, 2021, Israeli forces killed 247 Palestinians, including 66 Children and 39 Women; 1417 wounded, including 277 women and 412 children. Nine Israelis were killed by the Palestinian resistance during the same time period.

Zaid was from Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in Gaza city. Source: IMEMC