Tag: International law - Page 43 - International Solidarity Movement

Testimony of one of the latest attacks against Gaza’s fishermen

12th June 2016 | International Solidarity Movement, Gaza-team | Gaza Strip, occupied Palestine

Last Wednesday Rajab Khaled Abu Riela, 30 years old, his brother and two cousins left Gaza’s port at 12 pm. They stayed out fishing until 1:30 am. “When we started our way back to the port one Israeli warship approached, the soldiers started insulting us through the microphone and immediately after started shooting against our two small boats with live ammunition”. “Then their warship crashed against us. In that moment I decided to try to escape, but I was immediately shot in the leg with live ammunition”. They took Rajab and his brother to Ashdod port, where they wouldn’t give him any medicine or treatment for the injury he sustained by the Israeli forces. “I was left bleeding until 9:30am”. Finally they were sent back to Gaza, where an ambulance took him directly from Erez border to the hospital, where he had to undergo surgery.

When he finally reached Shifa Hospital, doctors managed to remove the biggest pieces of the bullet – but many small pieces still remain in his leg.

Rajab's mother shows the bullet removed from his leg — Rajab’s mother shows the bullet removed from his leg

“Our future [for the fishermen] is uncertain; we don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Israel assaults us every day, takes our boats, shoots at us… Since 2005 I have pain in my chest due to an attack of the occupation, and as well my brother was injured while fishing in 2008. I’m responsible for providing for my family, we are 21 members… Now no one is providing for us, as I’m injured and they took our boat and motor. How I can work now without a boat?”

Peaceful planting activity stopped by Israeli forces in Hebron

11th June 2016 | Youth Against Apartheid | Hebron, occupied Palestine

On 9th April, Hebron Youth against Apartheid organized a planting activity in cooperation with the Colonization and Apartheid Wall Resistance Commission in the heart of Shuhada Street and Tel Rumeida neighborhood of al-Khalil (Hebron). Dozens of heavily-armed Israeli occupation forces stopped the group while marching towards the land, and prevented them from carrying out the planting. Despite this, the group refused to leave the area and instead protested in front of the armed soldiers, raising Palestinian flags, calling for human rights, justice, freedom, peace, nonviolence, freedom for prisoners and an end to the colonization of the old twon of Hebron city.

Actvists stopped by Israeli Forces Photo credit: Youth Against Apartheid — Actvists stopped by Israeli Forces
Photo credit: Youth Against Apartheid

Afterwards, the activists visited families in the Tel Rumeida neighbourhood, by sneaking into the area that then was still a closed military zone, meaning families are prohibited from receiving visitors. The group managed to visit the activist Imad Abu Shamsiyah who documented the execution of the injured Palestinian teen Abdul Fattah Al-Sharif and for this received threats from Israeli colonists threatening to burn him and his family; as well as the family of human rights defender Hashem Azzah, who was killed by Israeli forces’ tear gas.

Banner against Israeli occupation Photo credit: Youth Against Apartheid — Banner against Israeli occupation
Photo credit: Youth Against Apartheid

Youth Against Apartheid activities against Israeli apartheid occupation of Hebron

11th June 2016 | Youth Against Apartheid | Hebron, occupied Palestine

On 8th June, Hebron Youth Against Apartheid organised an activity to erase the racist Zionist occupation slogans on slaps of concrete walls and the military checkpoints within mainly the Tel Rumeida and Shuhada Street area. The slogans were replaced with slogans calling for freedom, BDS, peace, and to remove the illegal Zionist occupation colonies from the heart of al-Khalil (Hebron) city. During the activity, Israeli forces stopped and chased the activists.

Activists replacing slogans Photo credit: Youth Against Apartheid — Activists replacing slogans
Photo credit: Youth Against Apartheid

In the evening, despite the Zionist occupation forces restrictions, threats and closure, Hebron Youth Against Apartheid decorated Shuhada Street and Tel Rumeida with special Ramadan lights, for the first time in years.

Activists preparing Ramadan lights Photo credit: Youth Against Apartheid — Activists preparing Ramadan lights
Photo credit: Youth Against Apartheid

On 7th June, Hebron Youth Against Apartheid organised a sit-in to protest the continued closure of the apartheid passage leading to Shuhada Street in front of the illegal Zionist occupation colony Beit Hadasa. The Palestinian citizens demanded freedom of movement and a removal of the closure imposed on these stairs since November 2015.

Palestinians stopped by Israeli forces on the Qurtuba stairs Photo credit: Youth Against Apartheid — Palestinians stopped by Israeli forces on the Qurtuba stairs
Photo credit: Youth Against Apartheid

UN OHCHR Statement regarding Tel Aviv Shooting

10th June 2016 | United Nations Human Rights – Office of the High Commissioner | Occupied Palestine

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Statement by the Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Ravina Shamdasani regarding the Tel Aviv shooting:

The High Commissioner condemns the gun attack in Tel Aviv on Wednesday in which four Israelis were killed and a number were injured. This is the largest loss of Israeli life in a single attack since the current surge in violence.

We are also deeply concerned at the response of the Israeli authorities, which includes measures that may amount to prohibited collective punishment and will only increase the sense of injustice and frustration felt by Palestinians in this very tense time. The response has included the cancelling of all 83,000 permits granted to West Bank and Gaza residents to travel during Ramadan, the suspension of 204 work permits of individuals in the alleged attackers’ extended families, and the sealing off of their entire home town by the Israeli security forces.

Israel has a human rights obligation to bring those responsible to account for their crimes. And this it is doing. However the measures taken against the broader population punish not the perpetrators of the crime, but tens – maybe hundreds – of thousands of innocent Palestinians.

Collective Punishment after Tel Aviv Shooting

10th June 2016 | International Solidarity Movement | occupied Palestine

Late on Wednesday night, two Palestinians from the West Bank town of Yatta opened fire in a Tel Aviv shopping center, killing four Israelis, and injuring sixteen. The shopping center stood adjacent to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, fueling speculation that the attack may have been inspired by the recent appointment of Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the right wing Yisrael Beiteinu party and illegal settler, to the position of Israeli Defense Minister. The two Palestinians are currently in Israeli custody, one of whom was wounded during the shoot-out.

Lieberman’s response to the first major crisis of his career, has been brutal. The entire town of Yatta (Population 64,277) has been closed off, with all Palestinians except emergency services barred from entering or leaving. Additional reports suggest that the Israeli Military has also taken the first steps toward demolishing the family homes of the two attackers. In addition to the closure of Yatta, the military has also announced that it is revoked all permits for Palestinians from the West Bank wishing to cross the green line in order to visit family, prisoners, or pray at al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan – approximately 83,000 permits in total will be revoked. Palestinians with Israeli work permits will still be allowed to make the crossing. In addition, two battalions of troops will be sent to the West Bank.

These tactics; permit restrictions, house demolitions, and closure of entire towns constitute collective punishment. Collective punishment, the practice of enacting revenge on the friends, family, or community of a criminal or combatant, is illegal under the fourth Geneva Convention. Israel has been widely condemned for using this tactic as a deterrent to Palestinian resistance. In this instance, close to 150,000 residents of the West Bank will be punished for the actions of just two.