Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have committed a new war crime against Palestinian civilians, flagrantly breaching the Fourth Geneva Convention. IOF fighter jets dropped two bombs at a two-storey house in a crowded neighborhood in the town of Jabalia. The house belonged to a Hamas leader. The house owner was killed, and so were his wife and seven of their children. The house was completely destroyed. In addition, 34 civilians were injured, including five children and six women. Extensive damage was inflicted on 15 houses surrounding the targeted house. Read more about IOF Bomb a House in Gaza City, Killing Two Parents and Their 7 Children; 34 Civilians Injured
On July 11, 2006, six human rights groups petitioned the Israeli High Court demanding that the crossings in Gaza be opened to allow for the steady and regular supply of fuel, food, medicine, and equipment, including spare parts needed to operate generators. The groups also asked for an urgent hearing in order to prevent serious harm to the health of the civilian population, especially patients in hospital, and to prevent the breakdown of the water and sewage system in Gaza. Read more about Six human rights groups to Israeli High Court: Stop the harm to the civilian population in Gaza
The Israeli High Court decided in a session held 10 July 2006 to give the State of Israel a deadline of 48 hours to come up with a mechanism to allow patients, in the least, who are stuck on the Egyptian side of the Rafah International Crossing Point, to return to their homes in the Gaza Strip. The Court decision came in reply to a petition filed by Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, Gaza Community Mental Health Programme, Mezan Centre for Human Rights, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights on 7 July 2006. Read more about Response to petition to Israeli high court: 48 hours for Rafah crisis solution
The Palestinian ministry of health revealed on Monday that the Israeli army has used a new type of explosive in its offensive on the Gaza Strip. These explosives contain toxics and radioactive materials which burn and tear the victim’s body from the inside and leave long term deformations. The ministry called upon the international community and the humanitarian organizations to send an international medical community to examine the victims and confirm the truth about these banned weapons that Israel appears to be using. Read more about Palestinian injuries suggest Israel is using chemical weapons in Gaza
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) killed 3 Palestinian children and seriously injured a fourth one yesterday evening (10 July 2006) in Beit Hanoun, when an IOF plane fired a rocket at them. This crime comes within the context of the open war against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip since the capture of the Israeli soldier on 25 June 2006. It is part of the chain of collective punishment, targeting civilians, and destroying civilian property and infrastructure. Read more about IOF Continue to Target Civilians in the Gaza Strip: 3 Children Killed and another Seriously Injured in an Air Raid on Beit Hanoun
The following article was published by the Israeli daily Ma’ariv on 22 June 2006, indicating a formalized policy of expelling witnesses to Israel’s practices in the occupied West Bank. Ma’ariv reported: “According to the plan, the IDF will declare the Judea and Samaria closed to foreign nationals. Denying entry to the activists has been defined as prevention of political subversion and involvement of members of the movement in acts of terrorism, and limitation of friction with Jewish settlers.” Read more about Ma'ariv: "ISM foreign protestors to be expelled"
Yesterday, Bara’ Jamal Abu Jarbou’ (11) and Nema Abdel Rahman Hamad (45) from Nuseirat refugee camp were killed and 7 others were injured in a clan clash. And today, 3 other Palestinians were injured in a clan clash in the town of Bani Suheila, east of Khan Yunis. PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 14:20 on Sunday, 9 July 2006, an intra-clan clash erupted between members of the Hamad clan in Nuseirat refugee camp. The clash escalated and firearms were used. Nine people were injured during the clash; and 2 died of their wounds later. Read more about Woman and Child Killed and 10 Injured in Armed Clan Clashes in the Gaza Strip
Two years ago, on 9 July 2004, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel’s construction of the Wall in the occupied West Bank violated international law, and called inter alia for the parts situated on occupied territory to be dismantled. The signatories of this appeal would like to update you on Israel’s continued construction of the Wall in contravention of international law. Immediately after the ICJ Advisory Opinion was issued, the Israeli government rejected it outright, and declared that the construction of the Wall would continue. Read more about Intervention to Member States of the UN Two Years after the ICJ Advisory Opinion
8 July 2006 - The United Nations Humanitarian Agencies working in the occupied Palestinian territory, are alarmed by developments on the ground, which have seen innocent civilians, including children, killed, brought increased misery to hundreds of thousands of people and which will wreak far-reaching harm on Palestinian society. An already alarming situation in Gaza, with poverty rates at nearly eighty per cent and unemployment at nearly forty per cent, is likely to deteriorate rapidly, unless immediate and urgent action is taken. Since the strike on Gaza�s only power plant on June 28th, the entire strip is without electricity for between 12 and 18 hours every day. Read more about Statement by the United Nations Agencies working in the occupied Palestinian territory
Two years ago today [9 July 2004], the International Court of Justice, in The Hague, gave its advisory opinion on the Separation Barrier. The judges held that building the barrier in the West Bank violates international law. Thus, the court held, Israel must tear down the sections that stray from the Green Line, cancel the accompanying permit regime, and compensate Palestinians whose rights were violated by the barrier. The court also urged the UN General Assembly and the Security Council to consider actions to end the illegal situation created following construction of the barrier in the West Bank. Read more about Two years after the ICJ's decision on the Separation Barrier
