25 June 2003
On the occasion of the UN International Day in Support of the Victims of Torture tomorrow, June 26, the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) published some of its finding on torture in Israel. These findings are part of a report that will be published by PCATI in the coming weeks. Read more about A sharp increase in torture, ill treatment and violence in GSS interrogations
6 May 2002
During its April invasion of Nablus between 3 April and 21 April 2002, Israeli forces shelled a bakery in the old city of Nablus. Nablus was especially hard hit, especially in its old city, which contained many buildings of cultural, religious and historic significance. Much of the destruction appears to have occurred in the fighting as a result of the use by Israeli tanks, helicopter gunships and bulldozers. Read more about Nablus bakery
27 June 2003
“Seasoned and objective analysts have been surprised and alarmed at American officials’ extreme reactions to Belgium’s recently modified universal jurisdiction law. US threats seem excessive and hysterical, especially since the new law successfully filtered out two cases lodged in the Belgian courts against US officials for alleged war crimes committed in Iraq in 1991 and 2003. Could there be any unspoken reasons for the unprecedented and impolitic arm-twisting of the Belgian government by US officials in recent weeks?” Laurie King-Irani examines the political context of recent attempts to gut Belgium’s admirable universal jurisdiction law. Read more about Confronting Impunity for War Crimes: The Choice before Belgium -- and All of Us
24 April 2002
In the early hours of 3 April 2002, Israeli forces invaded Jenin refugee camp. By the time the Israeli forces partly withdrew and the lifting of the curfew on 18 April, 52 Palestinians and 23 Israeli soldiers were killed. More than 150 homes were destroyed and more rendered homeless. On April 25, 2002, Charity Crouse visited Jenin refugee camp and witnessed the destruction. Read more about Destruction of Jenin refugee camp
26 June 2003
One thousand days of violence have killed just over 3,000 people (2,398 Palestinians and 704 Israelis) and left 28,000 injured (23,150 Palestinians and 4,849 Israelis) in Israel and the Palestinian Autonomous and Occupied Territories. This is the human toll since the second Intifada started on September 29, 2000, according to figures from the Palestine Red Crescent (PRCS) and Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s equivalent of a Red Cross or Red Crescent Society. Read more about One thousand days, more than 3000 people killed
Rafah, Gaza Strip 26 June 2003
“It is no longer surprising to anyone here that American citizens get treated as Palestinians. It has been clear for ages that America does not take care of its own, much less those who come from such forgotten places as Rafah. As US passport holders, we have been advised by our embassy to leave the area. It is our own fault for being there if we are injured; our country has aligned itself nicely with Israel’s new policy of disclaiming any responsibility for human life in the Gaza Strip.” Laura Gordon writes from occupied Rafah. Read more about Israel's June 25th incursion into Rafah's Hay Salaam district
26 June 2003
“It is true, and it must be recognised, that without immense US pressure, the Sharon government would not have endorsed the roadmap. But it is also true that by endorsing the dozen or more reservations that Israel conditioned its acceptance upon, Washington has rendered the Israeli acceptance of the roadmap meaningless. What followed from that point on has been totally futile, obstructive, even dangerously counterproductive.” Hasan Abu Nimah comments. Read more about The road to peace needs no map
26 June 2003
This week, Israeli forces killed 5 Palestinians, including two women. Four of the victims were killed in extra-judicial executions. Israeli forces invaded Palestinian areas and demolished 12 homes and razed agricultural lands in the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces continued to shell Palestinian residential areas and continued to use Palestinian civilians as human shields. Dozens of Palestinian civilians were arrested as the siege on Palestinian communities continued. Read more about Weekly report on human rights violations
26 June 2003
Mohammad F. Awad knows the face of death. A six-year-old girl has died in his arms; he has recovered dead militia fighters and carried their bodies four floors down to the basement. Once, a bullet penetrated the ambulance window, whizzing past his head. Read more about When Palestinian aid workers become victims
25 June 2003
The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), the world’s largest network of NGO’s fighting against torture, has written an open letter to Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon regarding its concerns about the use of ill-treatment and torture - including the use of various forms of torture that were outlawed by a 1999 Israeli High Court of Justice ruling - in Israel and the Occupied Territories. Read more about Open letter concerning the use of ill-treatment and torture on Palestinian detainees