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<font size=3 color="#191919">Stop Collective Punishment in Gaza<br>
Report, <i>PCHR-I,</i> 3 July 2006<br>
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http://www.phr.org.il/phr/<br><br>
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<img src="cid:6.2.5.6.2.20060703091546.02a89b08@freedomarchives.org.0" width=483 height=341 alt="[]">
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Palestinians inspect the damage to their house after an Israeli incursion
into the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, July 2, 2006.
(<a href="http://www.maanimages.com">MaanImages</a>/Hatem Omar)<br><br>
Physicians for Human Rights-Israel decries the collective punishment that
Israel is inflicting on the civilian punishment in the Gaza Strip this
kind of punishment is forbidden by International Law and by all
reasonable moral standards.<br><br>
Over the past week, since the solider Gilad Shalit was captured by
Palestinian organizations, Israel has been attacking the civilian
population of the Gaza Strip, using means that are in direct violation of
international conventions that call to avoid indiscriminate harm to
civilians. Moreover, Israel is committed under international law to
actively protecting residents of the Gaza Strip from implications of the
war while clearly separating civilians and those involved in the
fighting.<br><br>
In the Gaza Strip there is an intermittent food shortage which is used to
exert forbidden pressure on the Palestinian civilian population. The
Geneva Conventions clearly state that
in no event shall actions against
these objects be taken which may be expected to leave the civilian
population with such inadequate food or water as to cause its starvation
or force its movement.(art.54(3)(b)). <br><br>
Additionally, the power stations in Gaza were harmed by Israeli attacks
resulting in an acute shortage in electricity. One of the consequences of
this action is that the water pumps, which use electricity, are only
partially operational, creating a shortage of drinkable water. <br><br>
Israel continues to carry out fly-bys with resulting super-sonic booms
over the Gaza Strip. These actions lead to psychological torture which
causes damage in children whose lives have turned into a continual
nightmare consisting of panic attacks, sleep disturbances, bedwetting and
other detrimental effects.<br><br>
Today, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel is filing an appeal with the
Israeli High Court for a temporary order to stop the fly-bys over the
strip due to the fact that they are in violation of the Convention on the
Rights of the Child, of which Israel is a signatory. The Conventions
states In accordance with their obligations under international
humanitarian law to protect the civilian population in armed conflicts,
States Parties shall take all feasible measures to ensure protection and
care of children who are affected by an armed conflict" (article
38). <br><br>
The attacks on the Gaza Strip are redolent of revenge and an instillment
of fear in the civilian population, both of which are clearly forbidden.
<br><br>
Section 50 of the Hague Convention forbids collective punishment of a
civilian population in response to actions perpetrated by individual
members of that population. <br><br>
"Civilian objects shall not be the object of attack or of
reprisals" (Geneva Conventions, Protocol 1, art.52(1)).<br><br>
Physicians for Human Rights calls on Israel to stop these actions
immediately and allowed he return of normal life for the civilian
population of the Gaza Strip.<br><br>
For more information:<br><br>
Maskit Bendel, Director: Occupied Territories Project,
+972-54-7700477<br>
Shabtai Gold, Public Outreach, +972-54-4860630<br><br>
<br>
<i><a href="http://www.phr.org.il">Physicians For Human Rights-Israel</a>
was founded in 1988 with the goal of struggling for human rights, in
particular the right to health, in Israel and the Occupied Territories.
Human dignity, wellness of mind and body and the right to health are at
the core of the world view of the organization and direct and instruct
our activities and efforts on both the individual and general level. Our
activities integrate advocacy and action toward changing harmful policies
and direct action providing healthcare. Today Physicians For Human
Rights-Israel has more than 1150 members, over half of whom are
healthcare providers.</i> <br><br>
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