All Content

Israel, Hezbollah, and the use and abuse of self-defence in international law

Victor Kattan 26 July 2006


Self-defence is specifically mentioned in Article 51 of the UN Charter, and is effectively a derogation from the prohibition on the use of force contained in Article 2 (4). Whether or not Israel is acting in self-defence in Lebanon according to the Charter is a crucial question, as the implications of its actions could have negative ramifications beyond the Arab-Israeli conflict and spill over into other problem areas. I consider Israel’s self-defence argument an abuse of terminology that is not applicable to the facts at hand and has no justification in international law. 

Weekly Report on Human Rights Violations

27 July 2006


This week, 41 Palestinians, 23 of whom were civilians, including 9 children, 3 women and two disabled persons, were killed by IOF in the Gaza Strip. Nine of these civilians from 3 families were killed in 3 separate attacks. 151 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 24 children, two women, two journalists and two paramedics, were wounded by the IOF gunfire. IOF launched a series of air strikes on a number of houses in the Gaza Strip. Six houses were destroyed and dozens of others were severely damaged, and IOF threatened and warned Palestinian civilians by phone to destroy their houses if they helped Palestinian resistance activists. 

UNIFIL: Civilians caught in the crossfire

27 July 2006


The IDF has maintained their presence inside Lebanese territory in the area of Marun Al Ras, Bint Jubayl and Yarun in the central sector. Intensive fighting in these areas, as well as the shelling of the area of Aytarun, and the aerial bombardment of the areas of At Tiri and Brashit north of Bint Jubayl was reported yesterday. This morning, sporadic fighting was reported in Bint Jubayl and Marun Al Ras, and intensive shelling of the area of At Tiri. There are a number of civilians who are still stranded in these towns and caught in the crossfire. 

Urgent need for arms embargo on Israel and Hizbullah

27 July 2006


Amnesty International is gravely concerned about the continuing transfer of weapons from the US, via the UK, as information emerged that a UK airport is being used by USA cargo planes on their way to deliver munitions to Israel. “The pattern of attacks and the extent of civilian casualties show a blatant disregard of international humanitarian law by Israel and Hizbullah,” said Irene Khan, Amnesty International Secretary General. “Direct targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure and launching indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks amount to war crimes.” 

Criminalizing Civilians

Patrick McGreevy Beirut 27 July 2006


After the IDF’s devastating losses at Bint Jabeil on Wednesday, the Washington Post Foreign Service reported this statement from former Mossad officer Yossi Alpher: “I dare say, based on what we’ve seen so far, these may be the best Arab troops we’ve seen so far.” An Nahar today reported that, Israeli Justice Minister Haim Ramon proclaimed: “Everyone who is still in south Lebanon is linked to Hizbullah, we have called on all who are there to leave.” He then suggested that “maximum firepower has to be used.” As justification, he cited the meeting in Rome, from which “we have in effect obtained the authorization to continue our operations until Hisbullah is no longer present in southern Lebanon.” 

Palestinian children hit hardest in ongoing Gaza crisis

Sabine Dolan 26 July 2006


Two young girls were killed early this evening in Jabalia in northeast Gaza and a three-year old girl, Sabrine, was killed in Al Shujayieh, a densely populated area in east Gaza. These latest casualties bring the total number of children who have died in Gaza since the hostilities began on 28 June 2006 to 33. Some 100 children have also been injured. “Children of all ages are afraid.” says UNICEF oPt Communication Officer Monica Awad. “They have nightmares. Parents in Gaza tell us that children won’t let go of their mothers. They are afraid to get out of the houses.” 

12 Palestinians killed and 58 injured in escalating IOF offensive in Gaza

26 July 2006


The IOF aggression against Palestinian civilians and their property has once again increased, resulting in 12 civilians killed, 55 injured, scores of houses destroyed and agricultural lands leveled after IOF forces penetrated eastern areas of Al Shaja’ia neighborhood of Gaza City and the borders of Jabalia town. In addition, the IOF have continued shelling houses and residential buildings, in particular Al Awda and Al Nada towers in western Beit Hanoun, and houses in eastern Khan Younis, which has resulted in the killing of a child and the injury of three other civilians. 

Not a particularly good day

Hanady Salman Beirut 27 July 2006


Yesterday was not a particularly good day. I was completely devastated, and had a lot ot do. First I had to take care of Oum Mostafa, a 75-year-old Egyptian lady who cleans houses in Lebanon since I’m guessing the ’70s. My friend Leila said we’d better get her out of here, she doesn’t have to go through all this. She’s not feeling well and she’s getting poorer every day because no one wants to hire an old lady who can barely move to clean their house. I don’t think you want me to describe to you the room (is it a room? It’s something with a roof on the top of it) where she lives. 

Prior warning does not justify targeting civilian property

26 July 2006


On 23 July 2006, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) started to implement a new policy of warning civilians shortly before bombarding their houses, giving them a notice of no more than one hour. IOF consider these warnings a justification to carry out the bombardments. This policy is a development of a practice perpetrated by IOF several times during attacks on several towns in the Gaza Strip. During these attacks, IOF warned town residents, through leaflets dropped by planes, against staying in their homes located in areas where IOF were conducting military operations. 

Differing perceptions of Hezbollah

24 July 2006


Leila Buck’s first article on Electronic Intifada was subtitled “I have so many things to say and share I don’t know where to start.” I feel the same way. Leila feels helpless facing US/Israeli propaganda about brutal war crimes against Arabs. I feel the same way. In her good anger she goes to an extreme to support her argument. One cannot say 90 percent of Lebanese do not support Hezbollah. That is wrong. The rich, much of the middle class indeed do not support Hezbollah. They are not even a majority.