20 The Independent Commission for Human Rights - ICHR civilians, Israeli shelling resulted in the destruction of hundreds of homes, residential flats, towers, government institutions, banks, schools, roads, water pipelines, and desalination plants. The IOF deliberately bombed vehicles and civilian gatherings on the streets, killing 253 Palestinian citizens, including 67 children, 39 women, and 17 older persons, and injuring 1,948 others. For the rest of their lives, some wounded persons will suffer from permanent disabilities. The Israeli aggression also caused the total destruction of 1,400 housing units8 as well as 21 multi-storey towers and buildings.9 During the military offensive, Palestinian Civil Defence teams and medical staff were targeted as well. Rescue efforts were also obstructed. During the Israeli military aggression, dozens of police stations, security structures, and open areas were targeted. In Gaza city, the Civil Police headquarters was destroyed. In the meantime, streets, commercial premises, and markets were shut down and traffic was limited to ambulances and emergency teams. The Israeli occupying authorities intentionally undermined the operations of economic structures across the Gaza Strip, causing severe damage to various economic sectors, particularly industry and commerce. The economy was disrupted as dozens of businesses, factories, and handicraft workshops were targeted, causing hefty losses both directly and indirectly to these facilities. Many main roads, streets, road junctions, electricity grids, water networks, and other infrastructure were bombed and destroyed. The Israeli aggression further worsened the conditions of these already deteriorated facilities due to previous Israeli offensives and longstanding siege on Gaza. Targeting populated areas, Israeli air strikes constituted a clear contravention to the occupying Power’s obligations under the IHL, including abidance by the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precautions in attacks in the conduct of hostilities. When it used force, Israel did not comply fully with international human rights standards. This included the prohibition of unnecessary or disproportionate use of force.10 During the military operation, Israel committed grave violations of Palestinian human rights. This was in clear breach of the 1949 Geneva Convention (IV) relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (Fourth Geneva Convention), first and foremost the right to life and existence in human dignity. Deliberately, the IOF used excessive force to target the civilian population, particularly children and women, who had already been victims of the Israeli tightened blockade and violence. These lost their homes and livelihoods. The targeting of civilians resulted in the killing of entire families. The Israeli aggression has had adverse consequences on the rights of Palestinian citizens throughout the Gaza Strip. In addition to flagrant impingements on fundamental human rights, the military offensive disabled and left the services sector falling short of providing vital services to the Gaza population at the time. It impacted vulnerable groups across Gaza, especially female-headed households and children. This was further compounded by the need for mental health and psychosocial support services. During the aggression, Israeli arbitrary measures, including the ongoing tight siege for the 15th year in a row, were also part and parcel of the collective punishment against the Gaza population in disregard of all international conventions, treaties, and customs which ensure peoples’ right to self-determination and right of unarmed civilians to protection in time of war and armed conflict.11 8 9 10 11 Statement by Engineer Naji Sarhan, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (MoPWH), in a town hall meeting, titled Reconstruction and Siege on the Gaza Strip, Gaza, 13 September 2021. High Government Committee for Gaza Reconstruction. Report on the Findings of the Rapid Assessment of Direct Damage Caused by the Aggression of May 2021, Executive Summary, June 2021. OCHA. Escalation in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and Israel | Flash Update #2 as of 17:00, 12 May 2021. For more information, see ICHR. Special Report: The Israeli Aggression on the Gaza Strip and its Consequences on the Situation of Fundamental Rights, Ramallah, 2021. The Situation of Human Rights in Palestine