All Content

Israel and Lebanon: ICRC gravely concerned about the plight of civilians caught up in hostilities

13 July 2006


The ICRC is following the military developments in Lebanon and northern Israel with great concern, as these events are having a serious impact on civilians. According to the latest reports, almost 50 civilians have been killed inside Lebanon as a result of bombing and rocket attacks. Military action in the south of the country has caused extensive damage to infrastructure, including roads and major bridges. The civilian airport in Beirut was bombed by the Israeli Air Force on the morning of 13 July. The ICRC is also alarmed by reports that several civilians were killed and dozens of people were injured when Hezbollah fired rockets into cities in northern Israel. 

What are they fighting for?

Tanya Reinhart 14 July 2006


Whatever may be the fate of the captive soldier Gilad Shalit, the Israeli army’s war in Gaza is not about him. As senior security analyst Alex Fishman widely reported, the army was preparing for an attack months earlier and was constantly pushing for it, with the goal of destroying the Hamas infrastructure and its government. The army initiated an escalation on 8 June when it assassinated Abu Samhadana, a senior appointee of the Hamas government, and intensified its shelling of civilians in the Gaza Strip. The capture of the soldier released the safety-catch, and the operation began on 28 June. 

Seven journalists and media workers injured in Lebanon

13 July 2006


Voicing concern about attacks on journalists in Lebanon in the past 48 hours and the lack of resources being deployed to protect them, Reporters Without Borders has called on the Israeli authorities to investigate the circumstances in which three journalists with the Lebanese television station New TV were injured on 12 July 2006. Reporter Bassel Al-Aridi, cameraman Abd Khayyat and assistant cameraman Ziad Sarwan were injured when their vehicle was hit by shots fired from an Israeli helicopter as they crossed a bridge in the south of the country, where they had gone to cover the fighting. This took place during an Israeli air raid aimed at cutting lines of communication and destroying bridges. 

Human Rights Watch: "Do Not Attack Civilians"

13 July 2006


Hizballah and Israel must not under any circumstances attack civilians in Israel and Lebanon, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch called on all sides to scrupulously respect the absolute prohibition against targeting civilians or carrying out attacks that indiscriminately harm civilians. “Hizballah and Israel must make protecting civilians the priority, and direct attacks only at military targets,” said Joe Stork, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa division at Human Rights Watch. Human Rights Watch said that attacks on civilians, or acts to intimidate civilians, clearly violate international humanitarian law, and may constitute war crimes, even if carried out in reprisal for attacks by an adversary on one’s own civilians. 

ICRC gravely concerned about humanitarian situation in Gaza

13 July 2006


The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is alarmed about the deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip. The continuing escalation of violence, with military operations taking place in highly populated areas, has serious consequences for the civilian population. Over the past two weeks, Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip have led to the deaths of dozens of people and the wounding of many more, among them a large number of civilians. In one single incident on 12 July, nine family members – including children – were killed in their home by an air strike in Gaza City. In some cases, people living near operations have been unable to leave their homes for several days. 

EI on KPFK to discuss Israel's invasion of Lebanon

13 July 2006


EI’s Ali Abunimah appeared on “Beneath the Surface with Jerry Quickley” on Los Angeles Pacifica outlet KPFK on Thursday, July 13th, to discuss the Israeli attack on Lebanon. On July 13th, Israeli attacks on Lebanon caused massive destruction at the Beirut International Airport, attacked key Lebanese infrastructure points, and killed 50 Lebanese civilians. “Beneath the Surface with Jerry Quickley” airs Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 5 PM - 6 PM on KPFK, hosted by performance poet Quickley. 

EI's Ali Abunimah speaks about the Israeli attacks on Lebanon

13 July 2006


On July 13th, Flashpoints Radio hosted Electronic Intifada cofounder, Ali Abunimah, for a discussion of the Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Today, Israeli fighter jets stuck deep inside Lebanon, killing over 50 including 15 children and a family of ten. “Israel is complaining now that its sovereign territory was violated by Hizballah… When did Israel ever respect the sovereign territory of any of its neighbors? Israel occupied Southwest Syria. There are 30,000 Israeli settlers cultivating wine and enjoying the Golan Heights and claiming God gave it to them.” Flashpoints News Radio broadcasts every weekday at 5:00PM Pacific Time on 94.1 FM, from Berkeley, California. Interviewer: Dennis Bernstein. 

Ladies and gentlemen, I did not want to burden you with the troubles of war but...

Zena El-Khalil Beirut 13 July 2006


For the last half hour or so, I have been watching the skyline outside my balcony. It is on fire. It’s 4:14am. At 3:28am this morning, I woke up to the sound of Israeli jets flying low over our skies in Beirut. I was just beginning to finally fall asleep, had racing thoughts in my mind all night, cramps in my stomach, fear… Just as I thought I was going to fall asleep, I heard the sound of jets, followed by one explosion after another. It has calmed down now. I hear morning prayers in the distance. 

Hundreds march in Dublin for Palestinian rights

David Landy 13 July 2006


Last Saturday in Dublin, despite the spitting and occasionally pouring rain, over 500 people marched to protest Israeli war crimes in Gaza. The rally was called by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity campaign, and was the culmination of a week of condemnation of Israeli actions. The march got a supportive reaction from passers-by, showing the popularity of the Palestinian cause among ordinary Irish people. Speakers included the Palestinian representative in Ireland, Hikmat Ajurri, as well as a representative from the Palestinian community, who thanked so many people for coming out and showing solidarity with the Palestinian people. 

Information brief: History of Israeli-Arab prisoner exchanges

Samar Assad 13 July 2006


Arrangements for prisoner exchanges between Arab governments and Israel date back to 1948. During the early 1980s, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel exchanged prisoners, the most famous of which is known as the “Jibril Deal” in May 1985. Through third-party negotiations, Israel and Hizballah carried out three prisoner exchanges starting in 1996. Attempts to secure the release of Palestinian political prisoners through negotiations often failed because Israel regularly suspended talks over prisoners or renegotiated established criteria for their release.