Monday, 5 January 2009 – DAY TEN

On the 10th consecutive day of the offensive, the IOF advanced towards residential areas. They turned houses into military sites – in some instances holding the people inside as human shields – and shot at any individuals who approached. In Gaza City, an IOF warplane bombed a house belonging to Rizq Abu ‘Eisha in al-Shati refugee camp in the west of the city, killing a number of his family members. Three children from the al-Sammouni family, including two brothers, were also killed.

At night, the IOF bombed a house belonging to the ‘Olaiwa family in al-Jdaida area in al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, killing a woman and her 4 children. The IOF also bombed al-Saraya governmental complex in Gaza City, due to which a number of nearby houses were destroyed.

In the central Gaza Strip, the IOF fired five artillery shells at the central market and a residential area in block 4 in the middle of al-Boreij refugee camp. Five Palestinians, including two children were killed, three of whom were from the Jbara family. 110 Palestinians were killed on this day, including 98 civilians; 36 children and 16 women. This number includes also 7 Palestinians who died of wounds they had sustained earlier in the offensive.
MEMO Photographer: Mohammed Asad