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The Shuja'iyya Incident or Shuja'iyya massacre, was a battle between Israeli forces and Hamas militants which took place on 20 July 2014 in Shuja'iyya, a neighborhood in Gaza City. Israeli bombs and artillery shells killed at least 65 Palestinians and wounded around 288 others. Among the dead were at least 17 children, 14 women and 4 elderly Palestinian civilians. Hamas militants killed 13 Israeli soldiers.

On Wednesday 16 July, Israeli forces used leaflets, phone calls, and text messages instructing residents in the Zeitoun and Shujai'iya areas of Gaza city to evacuate ahead of planned strikes. On Sunday, 20 July, Israeli forces made an incursion, beginning after midnight, into Shuja'iyya, stating that over 140 rockets had been fired at Israel from the neighborhood since 8 July. A 7-hour battle ensued as IDF forces were met with resistance from Hamas fighters, armed with anti-tank missiles, rocket-propelled grenades, and automatic weapons. Several residential blocks were extensively shelled destroying dozens of houses. Palestinians attempting to flee the area described the scene as a "massacre", as did the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas.

Hamas claimed to have captured an IDF soldier they identified as Aron Shaul during the fighting on Sunday. IDF later confirmed that the body of one of the seven soldiers in the armored vehicle is not yet identified, and the name was Oron Shaul.

Casualties

At least 65 Palestinians were killed according to Shifa hospital's director, Naser Tattar. The United Nations's of Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People put the estimate at over 70 Palestinian dead. At least 17 children, 14 women and 4 elderly were killed during the incident, while 288 Palestinians were wounded. Other reports claim 120 Palestinians killed, one third women and children.

13 IDF soldiers were killed, including two Americans serving in Israel. Seven of the IDF soldiers were killed as their armored vehicle was hit by an anti-tank rocket or Improvised explosive device, three were killed in clashes with militants, and three were trapped in a burning house. In the following 24 hours, 3 additional IDF soldiers were killed in Shuja'iyya.

Official reactions

Involved parties

 Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the military actions that resulted in the deaths, maintaining that Hamas was using the area to launch attacks against Israel. Netanyahu blamed the Palestinians for their own deaths, "We asked in every way for the civilian population to leave, Hamas told them not to so they could be used as human shields." he said

 Palestine: The Palestinian government condemned the attack as a "massacre" and declared three days of mourning. The newly-inaugurated Palestinian government described the attack as a "war crime" which required immediate international intervention. "The Palestinian consensus government condemned in the strongest terms the heinous massacre committed by the Israeli occupation forces against innocent Palestinian civilians in the neighbourhood of Shuja'iyya," it said.

International

 Iran: "The Iranian government and nation, as in the past, will stand by the proud Palestinian people and their brave resistance and will not be silent in the face of the brutal crimes by the Zionists," Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said on Sunday. She added that Muslim and freedom-seeking nations in the world would undoubtedly give an “unforgettable lesson” to the Israeli regime on Friday's International Quds Day in support of the Palestinian resistance against Israel.

 Canada: Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird told reporters: "We mourn the death of every single innocent civilian. I think you can just conclude that there’s one group that is fully and entirely responsible for this tragedy. And it is Hamas. They are responsible and they can stop this at any moment."

Supranational

 Arab League: Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi called for an immediate cessation to the Israeli "barbarous ground incursion" in Gaza in addition to the ongoing bombardment across Gaza. He called to provide the necessary protection to the Palestinian civilians, holding Israel fully responsible for what he described as a "hideous crime."

 UN: Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called the attack on Shejaiya “an atrocious action.”

See also

• Dahiya doctrine

References

1. 'A real massacre': Norwegian doctor at Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital during bombardment, Zeinab El-Gundy, 20 July 2014, Ahram
2. "Massacre in Shejaiya". The Nation. 20 July 2014.
3. ^ "Gaza Crisis: 40 Palestinians Killed as Israel Shejaiya 'Massacre' Leaves Bodies in the Street". International Business Times. 20 July 2014.
4. "Israeli air strikes target Hamas leaders as ceasefire fails". The Guardian. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
5. Prime Minister's office information from IDF
6. "Israeli 'massacre' in Gaza City". Ma'an News Agency. 20 July 2014.
7. "Israeli soldiers killed after battle in Gaza City suburb". The Guardian. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
8. ^ "Neighborhood Ravaged on Deadliest Day So Far for Both Sides in Gaza". NY Times. 20 July 2014.
9. ^ Reuters, 'More than 65 killed in Israeli shelling in Gaza City,' Ynet 20 July 2014.
10. "Israel hits hundreds of targets in Gaza as soldier is confirmed missing". The Guardian. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
11. "Israel says soldier missing, presumed dead; Kerry presses for truce". Reuters. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
12. ^ Americans From Texas, California Killed in Gaza
13. 'Bureau of Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People strongly condemns ongoing Israeli military operation in Gaza,' General Assembly GA/PAL/1311, 21 July 2014.
14. '10 Human Rights Organizations in an Urgent Letter to Attorney General: Concerns Regarding Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law in the IDF's Operations in Gaza,' B'tselem 21 July 2014.
15. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/21/gaza-crisis-obama-ceasefire-fighting-goes-on
16. http://www.timesofisrael.com/kerry-heads-to-cairo-for-ceasefire-bid-as-israel-names-soldiers-killed-in-gaza/#liveblog-entry-1032814
17. "Netanyahu defends Shujaiyeh attack". Haaretz. 20 July 2014.
18. "Over 60 dead in Israeli attack on Gaza district: hospital". The Daily Star. 20 July 2014.
19. "Palestinians slam Israel 'massacre' in Shejaiya". RTÉ News. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
20. "Iran decries Israel's incursion into Gaza's Shejaiya". Press TV. 20 July 2014.
21. http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/canada-mourns-civilian-deaths-in-gaza-baird-says
22. "Arab League Dubs Israeli Massacre in Shuja'iyya 'War Crime'". Saudi Press Agency. 20 July 2014.

• 2014 in the Gaza Strip
• Israeli–Palestinian conflict
• Conflicts in 2014