As Israel continued the bombardment of the Gaza Strip since Thursday, Palestinian medical sources in Gaza reported that the number of slain residents arrived to 15, while more than 40 others, were wounded in the last 24 hours of military escalation.The sources stated that the Israeli Air Force fired a missile at a motorcycle driving in Ath-Thaltheen Street, in Gaza City, killing three residents, including a child. Their bodies were severely mutilated.
Adham Abu Salmiyya, spokesperson of the Higher Committee of Medical and Emergency Services in Gaza, reported that the child was only two years old, and that one woman is among the injured.
The casualties were identified as Dr. Monther Qreiqe’ and his brother Mo’taz of the Al Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, and a two-year-old child identified as Islam. They were transporting Islam to a local hospital as he needed urgent medical care.
Abu Salmiyya added that residents Anwar Salim and Imad Abu Abda were also killed when the Israeli Air Force bombarded their motorcycle while driving near the southern entrance of the Al Boreij Refugee camp in central Gaza. The two are among the leaders of the Islamic Jihad Movement.
The latest escalation raises the number of Palestinians killed by the Israeli army in 24 hours since Thursday to 15 residents.
The Israeli army carried out at least 50 strikes targeting several areas in the Gaza Strip injuring 45 Palestinians, including 10 children, 8 women, and two elderly.
Local sources in Khan Younis reported that the Israeli Air Force fired on Friday evening at least one missile into Abasan Al Jadeeda; damage was reported, no injuries.
The Air Force also fired one missile at a motorcycle in Sheikh Zayed area, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, killing Samed Abed, 25, member of the Salah Ed Deen Brigades of the Popular Resistance Committees.
Also, several residents were injured, including a 15-year-old child who suffered serious injuries, when the army bombarded Hassanen factory near Al Wafa’ Hospital, east of Gaza city.
On Friday morning, one resident was killed and another was injured when the Israeli Air Force bombarded an area east of Gaza City. The resident, Mohammad Enaya, 22, was initially seriously wounded when the missile led to the amputation of his legs and arms, and died of his wounds later on.
The army also fired a missile, on Friday before noon, at a car driving near the Gaza Sea, west of Gaza City, no injuries were reported. The Israeli bombardment also caused a power blackout in the area.
List of the residents killed by the army since Thursday;
1. Abu Awad Al Nairab, Secretary General of the Salah Ed Deen Brigades.
2. Imad Hammad, Popular Resistance Committees.
3. Abu Jamil Shaath.
4. Khaled Al Masry.
5. Imad Nassr.
6. Malak Shaath, 2 years old.
7. Mahmoud Abu Samra, 13 years old.
8. Ashraf Azzam, 30.
9. Mohammad Enaya, 22.
10. Samed Abed, 25.
11. Anwar Islayyim, 21.
12. Imad Abu Abda.
13. Monther Qreiqe’, 32.
14. Islam Qreiqe; 2.
15. Mo’taz Qreiqe’.
On Friday evening, Ismail Haniyya, Prime Minister of the Hamas-led government in Gaza, contacted the Emir ot Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, and informed him of the latest situation in Gaza.
Earlier on Friday, Haniyya phoned official in Egypt, the head of the Arab League Dr. Nabil Al Arabi, and the United Nations urging them to stop the Israeli escalation, the Palestine-Info reported.