Tag: International Humanitarian Law

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Genocide in Gaza: Global outrage, resistance and a wider war? by Ashahed M. Muhammad

A massive march and rally was held outside the White House in Washington, D.C., drawing thousands protesting Israel’s genocidal military assault against the Palestinian people, and the U.S. government’s financial military support… “We watch in horror as Israeli occupation forces destroyed mosques, schools, hospitals, agricultural areas, industries, and even the only power station in Gaza. We ask people of conscience to contact media and politicians to ensure that Israel is not immune from compliance with International Humanitarian Law. We also ask for expansion of campaigns of boycotts, divestment, and sanctions (BDS). Hundreds of thousands around the world demonstrated for Gaza and we are grateful. But more actions at this stage are needed to prevent large-scale genocide and human catastrophe in Gaza,” Prof. Mazin Qumsiyeh noted.

Continue reading at http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/World_News_3/article_101656.shtml

TAKE ACTION now and write a letter to the UN Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide. Make sure to post a copy of the letter in our comments as well, so we can publish it.
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Statement by the Special Advisers on the Prevention of Genocide on the situation in Israel and in the Palestinian Occupied Territory of Gaza Strip (July 2014)

Dieng and Welsh stated that the high number of civilian casualties, particularly among the Palestinians, could demonstrate disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force by the Israeli Defence Forces. At the same time, the launching of rocket attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups into Israeli residential areas constitutes indiscriminate use of force. In this context, “both parties are in violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and these acts could constitute atrocity crimes”, the two Special Advisers observed.
The Special Advisers urge all parties to adhere to the principles of distinction between civilians and combatants, and between civilian objects and military objectives. They also call upon the Israeli Defence Forces to fully respect the principle of proportionality…

Israel, as the Occupying Power, the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas, have the responsibility to protect the population in Gaza. The Special Advisers call on the three parties to take immediate measures to ensure the protection of the population.

Continue reading at http://www.un.org/en/preventgenocide/adviser/pdf/24.07.2014%20Special%20Advisers’%20Statement%20on%20the%20situation%20in%20Israel%20and%20the%20occupied%20Gaza%20strip.pdf

TAKE ACTION now and write a letter to the UN Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide. Make sure to post a copy of the letter in our comments as well, so we can publish it.
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Amnesty International: Trigger Happy – Israel’s Use of Excessive Force in the West Bank

5. ISRAEL’S OBLIGATIONS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW
Several bodies of international law apply to Israel’s conduct in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem…  International criminal law, which establishes individual criminal responsibility for certain violations and abuses of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, such as war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, as well as torture, extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearance…

5.5 INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW
Individuals, including military personnel and law enforcement officers, can be held criminally
responsible for certain violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian
law.
Under the principle of universal jurisdiction, all states have an obligation to investigate and, where
enough admissible evidence is gathered, prosecute crimes under international law, including
genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, torture, extrajudicial executions and enforced
disappearances.

Continue reading at http://www.amnesty.org/fr/library/asset/MDE15/002/2014/en/349188ef-e14a-418f-ac20-6c9e5c8d9f88/mde150022014en.pdf

TAKE ACTION now and write a letter to the UN Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide. Make sure to post a copy of the letter in our comments as well, so we can publish it.