Suspicion: Soldiers shot and killed man and his son in their home - Video

According to testimonies given to B'Tselem, on 3 January, soldiers called to ‘Atiya a-Samuni to come out of his house, in a-Zeitun, Gaza City. When he approached the door, soldiers opened fire, killing him. The soldiers continued firing, wounding a number of relatives, among them an infant who died from his wounds. ‘Attiyah's son, Farj a-Samuni, described the event in a video testimony he gave to B'Tselem:




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Removal of the two bodies from the Samuni family compound, a-Zeitun, Gaza City. Photo: Muhammad Sabah, 18 January 2009.

Testimony: Army displaces residents of entire neighborhood

On 4 January, soldiers ordered all residents of the 'Abd Rabbo neighborhood, east of Gaza City, to leave their homes. Only a few families, having ill or disabled people, were allowed to remain. (B'Tselem)
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"Don’t use our children for political purposes"

A Gazan couple describes life with constant raids and bombings for the past two weeks: "Last night was awful. So many explosions from the air, from tanks, from everywhere…"; "I swear, tonight I prayed for the Israelis that someone will save them from their leadership… After this, Hamas will have 50,000 suicide bombers". (Gisha)
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Testimony: 9 die in bombing near UNRWA school

On 6 Jan., the Dib family sat in their yard trying to bake bread, as bakeries had run out. A shell struck their home, next to UNRWA's al-Fakhura school, killing 9 members of the family. (B'Tselem)
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Testimony: Family continuously on the run

The 'Arafat family fled their home under bombing and took shelter with relatives. The next day, that house too was bombed and caught fire, as the family escaped to an UNWRA school. (B'Tselem)
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Testimony: Detainee killed in police station bombing

On the first day of the Israeli attack on Gaza, 'Abd a-Shaf'i was arrested for selling cigarettes on the street. A short while later, Israel bombed the police station, killing a-Shaf'i and others. (B'Tselem)
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Testimony: M.A. held in Israel for several days and returned to Gaza

M.A, 40 years old, lives in 'Atatra in the Gaza Strip. He was taken from his house by the army on 5.1.09. "They put us in a ditch about three meters deep. There were around 70 other people there. We were there for two days, without food, blankets or water". (HaMoked)
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Testimony of beseiged family

All the neighboring families have left the area, but they remained at home in total isolation because they have nowhere to go to. After 15 days, food and water supplies are running out. (PHR Israel)
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Testimony: Shelled house goes up in flames, burning occupants inside

On 4 Jan., the Israeli army shelled a home in Beit Lahiya. Ghadah Abu Halima reported that the house went up in flames and five of its occupants burned to death, four of them children. As the survivors made their way to hospital, soldiers fired at them. (B'Tselem)
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Testimony: Family in bombed area running out of food and water

As bombs and missiles fall around them in Jabalya, the ‘Assaliyeh family are forced to stay inside their home with dwindling food and water supplies. (B'Tselem)
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Testimony: Israeli army kills 21 members of family

On 6 Jan., the Israeli army bombed the a-Daiyah home in Gaza City, killing 21 men, women and children from the family. (B'Tselem)
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Soldiers reportedly shot woman waving white flag

A Palestinian besieged in the Khuza'a area, in south-eastern Gaza, reported today that Israeli soldiers shot a woman waving a white flag and civilians who were fleeing a bombed house on army orders, killing at least three and wounding others. (B'Tselem)
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Testimony: Family can't escape Israeli bombings

The al Hussani family have been bombed out of three different havens since the fighting began two weeks ago; their nightmare continues. (HaMoked: Center for the Defence of the Individual)


The Rimal Neighborhood, Gaza City.

Testimony: 14-year old killed in Khan Yunis bombing

On the first day of the attack, Khaled al-Astal rode his bike to see a bombed place. As he drew near, more missiles were fired into the crowd that had gathered, killing him instantly. (B'Tselem)
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Soldiers kill and wound dozens from one family

Maysa' a-Samuni, 19, tells how on 4 Jan., Israeli soldiers ordered her entire extended family to gather in one building. The next morning, as some members tried to leave, the army shelled the building, killing and wounding dozens. (B'Tselem)
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Testimony: Sukar family hides in UNRWA school, suffering hunger and cold

On 4 Jan., the Israeli army began shelling a residential area in central Gaza. The Sukar family fled their home, taking nothing with them, and are now taking shelter in an UNRWA school, under harsh conditions. (B'Tselem)

Injured persons evacuated after seven days

The al-'Aeidi family home was bombed on 3 January, injuring 6 members. They spent the last seven days isolated and surrounded by Israeli military forces. Today, after many intervention efforts, the injured persons were finally evacuated. (PHR Israel)
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Testimony: Living without water

Mr. Abu Sha'aban, a father to two small children, describes daily life without running water. (Gisha)
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Testimony: Children killed while playing in street

On 2 January, children from the al-Astal family were playing in the street. A bombardment from the air hit three of them, killing them on the spot. (B'Tselem)
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Mother and daughter killed by tank fire as they flee from home

On 4 January, residents of an agricultural area in Juhar a-Dik fled their homes under shelling. Although the residents waved a white sheet, the Israeli army fired a shell, killing a mother and daughter. (B'Tselem)
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