Ramadan light Palestine
(AFP/Mahmud Hams)
Ramadan lights : Palestinian children set off fireworks celebrating the holy month of Ramadan in al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City.
UK – Features
No one has the right to murder
No one has the right to Murder
Yusuf Abramjee
Anger and emotion is running high following the death of hundreds of Palestinians and the injuring of many more. Israel started a series of air strikes on Gaza more than a week ago and a ground invasion got underway at the weekend. This is in response to rocket attacks from Hamas.
The majority of those killed by Israel are civilians – men, women and children. Locally, anger is also running high and we have seen a number of protest.
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Palestinian and Isaraeli human rights organisations call for end to international donor complicity in
Palestinian and Israeli Human Rights Organisations call for End to International Donor Complicity in Israeli Violations of International Law
JOINT PRESS RELEASE
REF.: 18.2009E
5 May 2009
On 2 March 2009, major international donors convened in Sharm al-Sheikh to collectively respond to the destruction caused by Israel ’s 23 day military offensive on the Gaza Strip (the offensive). During the conference, a total of $4.5 billion was pledged in reconstruction funds for Gaza . In light of the extensive destruction across the Gaza Strip, especially the destruction of civilian homes and infrastructure, reconstruction is urgent.
However, as Palestinian and Israeli human rights organisations, we must note that by agreeing to reconstruction without specific, binding assurances from the State of Israel, international donors are effectively underwriting Israel ’s illegal actions in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). International law – including, international human rights law, international humanitarian law (IHL), and the law of state responsibility for wrongful acts – places specific, binding obligations on the State of Israel (based, inter alia, on its duties as an Occupying Power) with respect to the maintenance and development of normal life in occupied territory. By repeatedly restricting their action to providing aid, without holding Israel accountable for its specific obligations, international donors are relieving Israel of its legally binding responsibilities.
Aid must be accompanied by strict assurances that are effectively monitored: Israel must not be allowed to act with impunity. The State of Israel must accept responsibility for its actions, and fulfil all of its legal obligations. By repeatedly covering the cost of the occupation, without insisting that Israel comply with international law, the international community is implicitly encouraging violations of international law – including grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions and war crimes – perpetrated by Israeli forces in the oPt. As High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, individual donor States may be in violation of their legally binding obligation “to ensure respect” for the Convention “in all circumstances.” While the international community turns a blind eye and pays the cost of the occupation, Israel is encouraged to continue acting outside the limits of international law.