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Al-Haq's Appeal to Palestinian Political Parties and Armed Factions

3 July 2006


The risk of armed confrontation between the Palestinian resistance and Israeli occupying forces throughout the Gaza Strip has prompted Al-Haq to issue this appeal in order to ensure that armed Palestinian activists take into account the rules of international law. In order to rely on international law to give legitimacy to their resistance and struggle for self-determination, the Palestinian resistance movements must respect their obligations under international law, which regulates the conduct of combatants during war. 

Stop Collective Punishment in Gaza

3 July 2006


Physicians for Human Rights-Israel decries the collective punishment that Israel is inflicting on the civilian punishment in the Gaza Strip � this kind of punishment is forbidden by International Law and by all reasonable moral standards. Over the past week, Israel has been attacking the civilian population of the Gaza Strip, using means that are in direct violation of international conventions that call to avoid indiscriminate harm to civilians. Moreover, Israel is committed under international law to actively protecting residents of the Gaza Strip from implications of the war and separating civilians and those involved in the fighting. 

Young Woman Killed in Rafah in an "Honor Killing"

3 July 2006


At approximately 14:00 on Friday, 30 June 2006, the Criminal Investigations Department of the Rafah Police learned of the burial of Maha Akram El-Hamayda (18), after she had been killed in an “honor killing” crime. The police were able to determine the burial place in the eastern cemetery in Rafah. The father was summoned by the police and the body was removed and submitted to the pathology department of Naser Hospital in Khan Yunis. According to information from the police, the pathologist report indicates that the girl had suffered a beating with a sharp object to the head, causing extensive bleeding. 

Israel invades Gaza

Nigel Parry 27 June 2006


At 11:51PM (Palestine time) on June 27th, Israel launched a large scale military assault on Gaza, as Israeli fighter planes carried out three airstrikes on Gazan bridges. Further strikes against Gazan power plants took place at 1:42AM, sending most of Gaza into darkness. At 2:24AM, Israeli forces began moving into Gaza to take control of the open areas east of Rafah. According to Israeli PM Ehud Olmert the aim of the invasion was “not to mete out punishment but rather to apply pressure so that the abducted soldier will be freed. We want to create a new equation — freeing the abducted soldier in return for lessening the pressure on the Palestinians.” 

Four Palestinians Killed and Six Injured, including One Child, in Armed Clan and Personal Disputes

2 July 2006


Four Palestinians were killed and another six injured, including one child, during armed clan and personal disputes, which took place over the past 24 hours in Salfit, Beit Lahya and Rafah. The latest incident occurred at approximately 12:30 on Sunday, 2 July 2006, and resulted in the death of Zahir Salman Maharieqa (27) from the town of Deir Esteya near Salfit. He was in a barber shop in the El-Zaytoona building in the center of Salfit when Tha’er Suliman Madi, a 26-year-old resident of Salfit, fired at him. 

PCHR Warns of a Humanitarian Crisis in the Gaza Strip

2 July 2006


PCHR calls upon all governments and countries in the international community, especially the High Contracting Parties of the Geneva Conventions, United Nations bodies, and all international humanitarian organizations to intervene and take immediate steps to force IOF to allow the flow of basic goods, fuel, food, and medical supplies into the Gaza Strip. The Centre warns the international community of the consequences of the collective punishment imposed by IOF on the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. A food and health crisis now threatens more than 1.5 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. 

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Intensify the Aggression of the Gaza Strip and Continue Reprisals against Palestinian Civilians

2 July 2006


For the 4th consecutive day, IOF continue to conduct extensive air raids on different parts of the Gaza Strip. These raids targeted civilian and government property and installations, in an apparent attempt to eliminate the leadership of the Palestinian government. In addition, eight Cabinet Ministers, more than 20 Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) members, and a number of Hamas leaders in the West Bank are still detained, after they were kidnapped from their places of residence last Thursday. 

Democracy Can't be Hijacked

Roni Ben Efrat 2 July 2006


Ten months after Israel’s disengagement from Gaza, its army has re-entered the Strip, while in the West Bank it has arrested the bulk of the Palestinian government: 64 legislators, cabinet ministers and officials, members of Hamas all. The pretext was a raid led by the Hamas military wing on June 25, in which two soldiers were killed and one captured. In Israel’s view, the event gives it an excuse to create a new political reality, nullifying the Hamas victory in the January elections. In certain respects, the Israeli actions are reminiscent of Operation “Defensive Shield” in 2002. 

Palestinians Prepare for Peace While Israel Practices War

Raji Sourani 2 July 2006


As the Palestinian factions prepare for peace, the Israeli military has continued to commit grave breaches of international law and inflict further suffering against the civilian population of the OPT. For the past three and a half years Israel has worked to isolate the Palestinian people by refusing to recognise their legitimate representatives (the PLO) as partners for peace. This strategy of unilateralism has taken place while very positive developments have taken place on the Palestinian side. Israeli violence has battered the Gaza Strip, perpetuating a long, hot, filthy summer of human rights violations. 

NY Green candidate for US Senate: Stop Israel's attacks on Gaza

2 July 2006


The conflict in Israel/Palestine has reached new levels of menace and suffering with the Israeli invasion of Gaza. The Israeli government is intent on inflicting significant suffering on the civilian population, targeting the local infrastructure by destroying the local power plant and three bridges. Water and electricity has been cut off to 1.3 million inhabitants. This comes on top of the suffering caused by decades of military occupation and the recent cutoff off of funds to the Palestinian government, which has left the many Palestinians in Gaza facing starvation.