Israel acts violate Geneva Convention; international silence
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 6/29/2006

Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemned Thursday the Israeli occupation forces detention of Palestinian Cabinet Ministers, legislative council in the West Bank.

In a press release, the Center said it views these detentions as a form of reprisal against Palestinian civilians and a form of collective punishment prohibited by Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

PCHR called upon the international community, particularly the High Contracting Parties of the Fourth Geneva Convention, to force Israeli occupation forces to respect the convention, which bars reprisals against protected persons, as stipulated in Article 33.

It also called upon the High Contracting Parties to enforce Article 3, regarding adherence to the convention and respecting its stipulations, and to take appropriate actions against the serious violations being perpetrated.

PCHR affirmed that these detentions are a form of reprisal and collective punishment and part of a plan to undermine the democratically elected government and PLC.

It said targeting the new Palestinian government underlines the intention of Israel to continue to disregard and undermine the Palestinian leadership.

The Center reiterated the position that Israel is intent on implementing unilateral steps to complete the construction of the Annexation Wall and seize more than half the area of the West Bank.

It also reiterated the call to the international community to take immediate steps to provide protection to the civilian population, in accordance with International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law, and to work to prevent further deterioration in the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Meantime, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights condemned the Israeli destruction of vital facilities in the Gaza Strip, calling upon the international community to immediately intervene to halt the Israeli war crimes.

Al Mezan said, in a press release, the Israeli Occupation Forces have intensified crimes against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip by targeting vital facilities, destroying bridges on Gaza Valley and the only electricity generator in the territory.

"Destruction of the power plant came as the Israeli Electricity Company revealed its intention to disconnect its own electricity supplies to the Gaza Strip," the press release added. "That would leave the area completely without power."

It added the electricity cut off will results in water shortages in all areas of the Gaza Strip.

"This situation is exacerbated by a suffocating closure of all entry and exit points to the territory. Therefore medicine, food, fuel and gas imports are all suspended. Markets in the Gaza Strip are depleted from essential goods and food," Al Mezan stated. "The closure of Rafah crossing caused significant suffering for more than a thousand Palestinians left stranded on the Palestinian and Egyptian sides of the border."

Al Mezan condemned the Israeli occupation forces crimes and confirmed that targeting vital civilian infrastructure constitutes a war crime.

"It is a grave violation of International Law, notably the Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protections of Civilians Persons in Time of War," it added. "Further, the attacks on civilian infrastructure constitute a clear escalation of collective punishment demonstrating the Israeli occupation forces disregard to political commitments they must abide by under International Law."

The Center reconfirmed that this is one of a string of Israeli war crimes against Palestinian civilians and properties in the Palestinian areas. "The silence of the International community is to be condemned because it encourages Israeli war crimes."

Previous Stories:
  Palestinian -Israeli conflict at impasse   (6/29/2006)
  International calls on Israel to halt Gaza attack   (6/29/2006)
  Abbas reiterates desire for referendum   (6/15/2006)
  Abbas: Arafat was a hero   (6/15/2006)
  HR organization: Child killed by Israel is war crime   (6/14/2006)
  10 murdered in Gaza, 4 of them paramedics   (6/13/2006)
  Israeli air raid kills 4 in Rafah   (6/9/2006)
  Two Palestinian casualty of Istaeli strike treated by Israelis   (6/7/2006)
  Red Crescent: Israeli Army has continued to violate Geneva convention   (3/21/2006)
  After the US veto, Palestinians to bring the Israeli acts to the fourth Geneva convention   (10/6/2004)

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