https://samrl.org/l?a3718 

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Joint Statement by a Group of International Organizations

We call for urgent international action to stop the mass murder of Gaza’s population and to protect protesters

Gaza - A press conference was held today at the Al-Shifa Medical Compound by the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor in which it issued a joint press statement signed by 27 different international organizations.

This statement comes in light of the recent mass murder of Palestinians resulting from the Israeli army's use of excessive force to disperse unarmed demonstrators, killing dozens and wounding over 2,000.

Since March 30, 2018, as weekly protests began at the Israel-Gaza separation fence, participants have been met with excessive use of lethal force by Israeli soldiers stationed at the fence, killing dozens of Palestinian protesters, most of whom posed no threat that could justify taking their very lives.

On May 14, while Israel celebrated with the United States of America the opening of the American Embassy in Jerusalem, demonstrations peaked with tens of thousands of Palestinians marching towards the fence to commemorate the 70th anniversary of their Nakba and to demand their right of return.

According to official statistics issued by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, 55 Palestinians, including 6 children, were killed and some 2,771 others injured on May 14 alone as the Israeli forces used excessive force, including live ammunition to disperse unarmed protesters. The death toll has now amounted to 108, while injuries rose to 12,291, and still counting. 300 of the injured are suffering from serious or critical wounds.

Monitoring and following up on these events, the undersigned organizations note the following:

1. For the most part, protests have been peaceful at the Gaza fence, while targeted protesters did not pose a threat to soldiers’ lives that could justify their killing or the use of excessive force against them.
2. It is true that, in some cases, protesters threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, attempted to cross the fence, or used Molotov cocktails. However, compared to vast majority of cases, these were limited. Also, none of them used or carried firearms. Given the large numbers of casualties, Israel’s use of lethal force is in no way justifiable. It is arbitrary and excessive.
3. It appears that there is a deliberate intention to further complicate injuries of protesters, causing serious injuries that may lead to permanent disabilities.
4. In most of the injuries, according to doctors’ testimonies, explosive bullets expanded as they pierced the body, leaving an even larger exit wound. This has left patients with no choice except to have their lower limbs amputated. Soldiers seem to have been intent on causing amputations to protesters.
5. The gas used to disperse demonstrators contained substances that caused tremor, fainting and hysteria. Doctors are concerned that it can lead to chronic lung infections, nervous system disorders or chronic spasms in the muscles and nerves.
6. The use of such types of weapons against civilians who did not pose a real threat to soldiers’ life contradicts the rules set for the use of force to disperse demonstrations. Such excessive and disproportionate use runs contrary to the provisions of the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, which prohibits the use of “weapons, projectiles and substances and methods of war that are likely to cause unnecessary suffering.”
7. The Israeli leadership insists on supporting military operations on Gaza's separation fence, and refuse to investigate incidents there. The Israeli  Defense Minister, Avigdor Lieberman said, during an interview with the Israeli Army’s radio station, on April 1st that, he would not be conducting any investigation in Israel’s actions on the borders. As for the Israeli Army’s Chief of Staff, General Gadi Eizenkot, he said “The orders are given for excessive use of force.” These statements and orders make Israeli Leaders directly responsible for these crimes.
8. These demonstrations are taking place in protest of an unprecedented blockade by Israel lasting for over 11 years, in a form of collective punishment. Following three devastating Israeli military operations over the past few years, Gaza is expected to become unfit for life by 2020, according to UN reports. These demonstrations also come in light of a political deadlock for years now, a 50-year-long occupation, and a failure to put the right of return into action, all of which have further exacerbated the crisis. The international community must act now to end this conflict, primarily by lifting the Israeli blockade on Gaza and ultimately by ending the occupation.

In light of these facts, the undersigned organizations call on the international community, especially the UN to work on the following:

1. The Israeli Occupation is entitled to respect protesters’ right to demonstrate in a peaceful manner in the Gaza Strip, and the Israeli Leadership to prevent their soldiers from using force when dealing with peaceful demonstrators. Firearms shall not be used except in extreme, and unavoidable circumstances, as is stipulated in the pertinent International Laws.
2. The Israeli Occupation must conduct an effective and serious investigation regarding the incidents whereby excessive force was used against the demonstrators in the Gaza Strip, and the use of weapons that have caused unjustifiable pain, while holding perpetrator accountable for these crimes, and bringing them to justice. The undersigned organizations also note the importance of referring these cases to the Courts of Justice of the countries party to the Geneva Conventions, under the principle of universal jurisdiction, to look into the said crimes. They also point to the jurisdiction of the International Crime Court, whose Public Prosecutor referred to the incidents on 8 April of this year.
3. The Israeli Occupation must put an immediate, and unconditional end to the blockade on the Gaza Strip, and shall compensate all those who were affected by this blockade over the past years. The Israeli government must work seriously to end its long-term occupation of the Palestinian territories, allow the return of Palestinian refugees to their homes and compensate those who do not wish to return, as stipulated in UN General Assembly Resolution 194.
4. Exert effective pressure on Israel to immediately end its blockade of the Gaza Strip, and end the ongoing Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, as it further fuels conflict and leads also to further escalation and violence in the region.

Statistics of casualties on the Gaza-Israel separation fence since the demonstrations began on March 30th until May 14th, 2018.

The Right of Return Demonstrations March 30th – May 14th, 2018 (*)
104 killed	Including 12 children	2 members of the press	3 PwDs
11,930 wounded	Including more than 603 children	208 medical team members	22 members of the press
	286 critically wounded (to-date)
	24 cases of amputation of the limbs
(*Source: Dr. Ashraf Al Qidra, the spokesman for the Palestinian Ministry of Health/Gaza

 

The undersigned organizations:

Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor

International Commission of Jurists: ICJ

Geneva International Centre for Justice

International Bar Association

Journalists for Human Rights

International Institute for Strategic Studies, Canada

De-Colonizer - Israel

International Organisation for the Elimination of All Forms of  Racial Discrimination

International Alliance for Human Rights and Development

Arab Lawyers Association - UK

Iraqi War Crimes Documentation Center

Sam Organization for Rights and Liberties - Geneva

International Humanitarian Law Center - Libya

Ikram Center for Human Rights - Iraq

Cultural Association - Algeria

SALAM International Organization for the Protection of Human Rights/ SPH

One Justice Organization - Paris

Insana edgerveren dernekler federasyonu

AFD International

Association of Victims of Torture in Tunisia, Geneva - A.V.T.T

Human Rights Solidarity

Al - Shehab for Human Rights

Identity Centre for Human Development - Jordan

Sisterhood is Global Institute, Jordan

Free Voice - France

Jordan Transparency Association

Syrian Network for Human Rights