In fear of the air and sea bombings that have struck Gaza, Mr. Fayez, the family’s grandfather, and his wife Khitam, had brought together their children and their families for safekeeping. Of the thirty family members killed, eighteen were children.

It is clear that Israeli targets are predominantly civilians in the areas they indiscriminately and randomly shell. Many other families shared the fate of the al-Daya’s Family due to Israel’s indiscriminate bombing and shelling, including: the families of Ba’lousha and Salha of the Jabaliya Refugee Camp; the family of Abu-‘Eisha of the Refugee Camp of al-Shate’; and the families of Al Samouni and Nimer in the neighborhood of Al Zaytoun in Gaza City.

Since its (so called) unilateral withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, Israel has, on various occasions, entirely cut off the Strip from electricity, water, fuel, medical supplies. In addition, it has closed the border and checkpoints in front of Palestinian civilians. These are practices that only a military occupation could impose on a civilian population. Israel, clearly, is in full and effective control of the Gaza Strip: its borders, checkpoints, airspace, sea, power, water, and even electro-magnetic frequencies including population registry. For the record, Gaza is considered to be one of the most densely populated areas in the world.