Ramallah, 31-08-06: As Israel’s re-invasion of the Gaza Strip enters its third month, 10 more Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military since August 30.
Eight men and a 14-year-old boy who was shot in the chest, were killed in the Shejaiya neighbourhood of Gaza City, which was invaded by Israeli soldiers on August 26. The dead included two men in their 30’s, also shot, and five others who were killed by tank fire.
Meanwhile, Israeli troops also shot and killed a 32-year-old Palestinian man in the West Bank city of Nablus.
This brings the number of Palestinians killed by the Israeli military since it re-invaded the Gaza Strip on June 28 to over 204 in Gaza alone, including at least 45 children. [1]
Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi MP, General Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative, stated that Israel is using the lack of media attention on Gaza to upscale its violations of human rights and fierce attacks against a civilian population.
The killings come as UN Secretary General Kofi Annan met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday. Mr. Annan stated that the killing of Palestinians “must stop immediately,’ and stressed that “an end to the occupation and the creation of a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel is key to resolving the problems of this troubled region.” [2]
[1] OCHA. Gaza Strip Situation Report 7-24 August 2006, 3pm. http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/opt/docs/UN/OCHA/GazaStripOCHA%20sitrep_24August06.pdf.
[2] Secretary-General's press conference with President Mahmoud Abbas (Secretary-General's comments only) (unofficial transcript), Ramallah, 30 August 2006. UN Secretary General Office of the Spokesman. http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=926.