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href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/gaza-medic-killed-israel-she-rescued-injured">electronicintifada.net</a>
<h1 class="reader-title">Gaza medic killed by Israel as she
rescued injured</h1>
<p class="node__submitted">
<span class="field field-author"><a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/people/ali-abunimah">Ali
Abunimah</a></span>
<span class="field field-blog"><a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/blog/rights-and-accountability">Rights
-</a></span>
<span class="field field-publication-date"><span
class="date-display-single"
content="2018-06-02T00:00:12+00:00">2 June 2018</span></span>
</p>
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style="display: block;">
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<article>
<figure id="file-63721"><source media="(min-width:
72rem)"><figcaption><small><span></span></small></figcaption></figure>
<p><em>This article has been updated since first
publication.</em></p>
<p>Israeli occupation forces shot dead a volunteer medic
and injured dozens of people as they continued their
indiscriminate attacks on Palestinians taking part in
<a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/tags/great-march-return">Great
March of Return</a> protests in Gaza for the 10th
consecutive Friday.</p>
<p>Razan Ashraf Abdul Qadir al-Najjar, 21, was helping
treat and evacuate wounded protesters east of Khan
Younis when she was fatally shot on Friday evening.</p>
<p>She was about 100 meters away from the boundary fence
with Israel at the moment she was shot and was wearing
clothing clearly identifying her as a medic, the human
rights group Al Mezan <a
href="http://www.mezan.org/post/25733">stated</a>,
citing eyewitnesses and its investigations. Al Mezan
stated that al-Najjar was shot in the back.</p>
<p>However, on Saturday, the Associated Press <a
href="https://apnews.com/8f422c62bc9c4adeadbd05d2cb1c5463">reported</a>,
citing the Khan Younis hospital where al-Najjar was
taken, that she “had a gunshot wound in the chest with
an exit wound in the back.”</p>
<p>Al-Najjar had become known for her bravery and
insistence on carrying out her medical rescue work
despite the obvious danger.</p>
<p>She had previously been injured by tear gas
inhalation, and on 13 April broke her wrist while
running to attend to a wounded person. But al-Najjar
refused to go to the hospital that day and continued
working in the field.</p>
<p>“It’s my duty and responsibility to be there and aid
those injured,” <a
href="https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/meet-palestinian-women-forefront-gaza-protests-180419154907955.html">she
told</a> Al Jazeera.</p>
<p>She also bore witness to the final moments of some of
those fatally wounded before her.</p>
<p>“It breaks my heart that some of the young men who
were injured or killed made their wills in front of
me,” she told Al Jazeera. “Some even gave me their
accessories [as gifts] before they died.”</p>
<p>Al-Najjar spoke about her work in an earlier TV
interview that was shared widely on social media
following the news of her death:</p>
<div id="file-63731">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Who is Razan? <a
href="https://t.co/BObf0qiLp4">pic.twitter.com/BObf0qiLp4</a></p>
— Muhammad Smiry 🇵🇸 Gaza (@MuhammadSmiry) <a
href="https://twitter.com/MuhammadSmiry/status/1002660778099560448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June
1, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>Many Twitter users, especially from Gaza, paid
tribute to al-Najjar:</p>
<div id="file-63931">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I can’t believe she’s been
murdured. I have been very proud of how she had
grown to be a strong and kind woman. I remember
her as a kid playing around. Whenever she came
to visit my grandma would call me to go to play
with her... my heart is in pieces <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GreatReturnMarch?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GreatReturnMarch</a>
<a href="https://t.co/ghd6PESnpU">pic.twitter.com/ghd6PESnpU</a></p>
— Dalia Alnajjar (@AlnajjarDalia) <a
href="https://twitter.com/AlnajjarDalia/status/1002615900980293635?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June
1, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div id="file-63736">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">An Israeli sniper shot and
killed Razan Al Najjar, a 21 year old
Palestinian nurse known for her daily presence
at the <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GreatReturnMarch?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GreatReturnMarch</a>
in Gaza.<br>
Her memory as a hero and angel of mercy will
outlast her murderer. <a
href="https://t.co/a5b9t92rdw">pic.twitter.com/a5b9t92rdw</a></p>
— Belal Aldabbour (@Belalmd12) <a
href="https://twitter.com/Belalmd12/status/1002608177169551363?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June
1, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div id="file-63741">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Volunteering Palestinian
paramedic Razan Najjar was shot dead by israeli
snipers while providing first aid to the wounded
at <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GreatReturnMatrch?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GreatReturnMatrch</a>
Gaza's eastern border. <a
href="https://t.co/9uGMYKchTt">pic.twitter.com/9uGMYKchTt</a></p>
— Great Return March (@GreatReturnMa) <a
href="https://twitter.com/GreatReturnMa/status/1002592144337620992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June
1, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div id="file-63746">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Razan Alnajjar “ Rest In
Peace ✌🏼 angel of mercy 💔 killed by Zionists
Israeli snipers at <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gaza?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gaza</a>
borders today. <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%B1%D8%B2%D8%A7%D9%86_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#رزان_النجار</a>
<a href="https://t.co/G3BGASyR1R">pic.twitter.com/G3BGASyR1R</a></p>
— Ÿousef🇵🇸 (@Joo_Gaza) <a
href="https://twitter.com/Joo_Gaza/status/1002655634406498305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June
1, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>Palestinian media shared images of al-Najjar’s family
and colleagues mourning her death:</p>
<div id="file-63751">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="rtl" lang="ar"><a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%B1?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#صور</a>|
مراسل "صفا": الحزن يخيم على عائلة وزميلات وزملاء
الشهيدة المسعفة رزان أشرف النجار (21 عامًا)
والتي قتلها الاحتلال أثناء تطبيبها المصابين
بمسيرة العودة شرق خانيونس <a
href="https://t.co/zlEVF7XBBz">pic.twitter.com/zlEVF7XBBz</a></p>
— وكالة صفا (@SafaPs) <a
href="https://twitter.com/SafaPs/status/1002599314844241920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June
1, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div id="file-63936">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sad and painful farewell 💔
to Razan from her friends and colleagues. Razan,
a volunteer nurse, 21 yrs, killed by <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Israel?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Israel</a>
sniper, while helping other injured
Palestinians, participating in the peaceful <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GreatReturnMarch?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GreatReturnMarch</a>.
<a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GazaBleeds?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GazaBleeds</a>
<a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GazaMassacre?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GazaMassacre</a>
<a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BDS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BDS</a>
<a href="https://t.co/1Fm9eIftuh">pic.twitter.com/1Fm9eIftuh</a></p>
— Dr. Basem Naim (@basemn63) <a
href="https://twitter.com/basemn63/status/1002729275102031872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June
2, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>Dr. <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/tags/ashraf-al-qedra">Ashraf
al-Qedra</a>, the spokesperson for Gaza’s health
ministry, <a
href="https://www.facebook.com/Ashraf.ability/posts/987705114740418">paid
tribute</a> to al-Najjar as a dedicated humanitarian
volunteer who did not leave her post until she “gave
herself as a martyr.”</p>
<h2>Hands in the air</h2>
<p>The medical vest al-Najjar was wearing, displayed by
her mother in this video, shows a hole in the back of
the garment:</p>
<div id="file-63956">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="rtl" lang="ar">ماذا قالت والدة الشهيدة
رزان النجار عن ابنتها المسعفة <a
href="https://t.co/UEHYoIwDTW">pic.twitter.com/UEHYoIwDTW</a></p>
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) <a
href="https://twitter.com/qudsn/status/1002919780741976064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June
2, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>A <a
href="https://www.facebook.com/Ashraf.ability/posts/988351168009146">statement</a>
released by the health ministry in Gaza on Saturday
said that al-Najjar was part of a team of paramedics
who “went to evacuate the wounded, raising both hands,
as an affirmation of not posing any danger to the
heavily armed occupation forces.”</p>
<p>“The Israeli occupation forces fired live bullets
directly at Razan’s chest and wounded several other
paramedics,” the health ministry added.</p>
<p>The ministry also released a video it said showed
al-Najjar and colleagues walking towards the boundary
fence with their hands in the air shortly before
al-Najjar was shot:</p>
<div id="file-63961">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/update?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#update</a>:
<a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gaza?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gaza</a>
MoH shared a video, reportedly taken minutes
before Razan al-Najjar was shot, showing her
& the rest of her paramedic team walking
towards the <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GazaFence?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GazaFence</a>
w/ hands in the air. According to 1 report, the
21-year-old nurse was shot while helping another
paramedic <a href="https://t.co/uuwlvGmgG2">pic.twitter.com/uuwlvGmgG2</a></p>
— Asaf Ronel (@AsafRonel) <a
href="https://twitter.com/AsafRonel/status/1002978370093834245?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June
2, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>On Saturday the UN special representative for the
Middle East peace process, Nickolay Mladenov, tweeted
that “medical workers are not a target. My thoughts
and prayers go out to the family of Razan al-Najjar.”</p>
<div id="file-63966">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Medical workers are <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotATarget?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NotATarget</a>!
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of
<a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Razan_AlNajjar?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Razan_AlNajjar</a>!
<a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Palestinians?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Palestinians</a>
in <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gaza?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gaza</a>
have had enough suffering. <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Israel?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Israel</a>
needs to calibrate its use of force and Hamas
need to prevent incidents at the fence.
Escalation only costs more lives.</p>
— Nickolay E. MLADENOV (@nmladenov) <a
href="https://twitter.com/nmladenov/status/1002833316914057217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June
2, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>However Mladenov failed to condemn Israel’s actions,
calling on it instead to “calibrate its use of force.”</p>
<p>On Saturday, thousands marched in al-Najjar’s
funeral, as colleagues carried her body, draped with
the Palestinian flag and the blood-drenched medical
vest she was wearing when she was shot:</p>
<div id="file-63946">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="rtl" lang="ar">جثمان الشهيدة الممرضة <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%B1%D8%B2%D8%A7%D9%86_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#رزان_النجار</a>
وسط زملائها، حيث انطلقت مسيرة تشييعها قبل قليل.
<a href="https://t.co/6evGggzOPk">pic.twitter.com/6evGggzOPk</a></p>
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) <a
href="https://twitter.com/qudsn/status/1002830656672550912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June
2, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div id="file-63951">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="rtl" lang="ar">صورة جوية لجنازة الشهيد <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%B1%D8%B2%D8%A7%D9%86_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#رزان_النجار</a>
قبل قليل، بمشاركة شعبية واسعة.</p>
<p>تصوير أركان غريب<a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D9%85%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%83_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%A9?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ملاك_الرحمة</a>
<a href="https://t.co/mmAalVMEvb">pic.twitter.com/mmAalVMEvb</a></p>
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) <a
href="https://twitter.com/qudsn/status/1002857282567331840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June
2, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<h2>Attacks on medics</h2>
<p>Al-Najjar is the second rescue worker to be killed by
Israeli forces since the Great March of Return
protests began on 30 March. According to the health
ministry in Gaza, more than 200 others have been
injured and 37 ambulances have been damaged.</p>
<p>Two weeks ago, Israeli snipers <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/maureen-clare-murphy/israel-slaughters-palestinians-marching-return">fatally
shot</a> paramedic <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/tags/mousa-jaber-abu-hassanein">Mousa
Jaber Abu Hassanein</a>.</p>
<p>About an hour before he was shot, Abu Hassanein had
helped rescue one of his colleagues, the Canadian
doctor Tarek Loubani who had been injured by an
Israeli bullet.</p>
<p>Loubani later <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/nora-barrows-friedman/listen-clearly-marked-gaza-medics-shot-israeli-snipers">told
The Electronic Intifada Podcast</a> how he was shot
in the leg when everything was quiet around him: “No
burning tires, no smoke, no tear gas, nobody messing
around in front of the buffer zone. Just a clearly
marked medical team well away from everybody else.”</p>
<div id="file-63941">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">After Musa, RIP Razan
Alnajjar, 21 year old nurse, shot in chest
during lull in today's peaceful protests in <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gaza?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gaza</a>.
She previously "fainted twice due to gas
inhalation, while on April 13 she broke her
wrist after falling while running to attend to a
wounded protester." <a
href="https://t.co/VBdgcePEoo">pic.twitter.com/VBdgcePEoo</a></p>
— Tarek Loubani (@trklou) <a
href="https://twitter.com/trklou/status/1002590471548473344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June
1, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<h2>War surgeons</h2>
<p>This Friday, as they have every week, Israeli forces
fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets and
tear gas at Palestinians along Gaza’s eastern
boundary, injuring almost 100 people, more than 30 of
them with live bullets, according to Al Mezan.</p>
<div id="file-63756">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Watch?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Watch</a>
|| Palestinians are marching to the eastrern
border of <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gaza?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gaza</a>
Strip to participate in <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GreatReturnMarch?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GreatReturnMarch</a>.<br>
Video from the middle area camp in the east of
Al-Buraij Refugee Camp<br>
Video by: <a
href="https://twitter.com/pallive_en?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@pallive_en</a>
<a href="https://t.co/gAR3hvXCW2">pic.twitter.com/gAR3hvXCW2</a></p>
— Great Return March (@GreatReturnMa) <a
href="https://twitter.com/GreatReturnMa/status/1002601303741169664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June
1, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>“Protesters presented no danger or threat to the
safety of the soldiers, which confirms that the
violations committed by these forces are grave and
systematic and amount to war crimes,” the human rights
group stated.</p>
<p>Since the end of March, Israeli forces have killed
129 people in Gaza including 15 children, 98 of them
during protests, according to Al Mezan.</p>
<p>As Israel continued to add to the staggering toll on
Friday, the health system in Gaza was already beyond
coping with the accumulation of people injured by the
apparent use of fragmenting ammunition that causes <a
href="https://www.map.org.uk/news/archive/post/828-horrific-injuries-reported-among-gaza-protesters">horrifying</a>
<a
href="http://www.msf.org/en/article/palestine-msf-teams-gaza-observe-unusually-severe-and-devastating-gunshot-injuries">injuries</a>
requiring intensive and complex treatment and often
leaving victims with permanent disabilities.</p>
<p><a
href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=980519228792340&set=pb.100005028168199.-2207520000.1527943221.&type=3&theater">More
than 13,000 people</a> have been injured since the
start of the protests, including those who suffered
due to tear gas inhalation. Of the more than 7,000
people who suffered injuries other than by tear gas,
more than half were shot with live ammunition.</p>
<div id="file-63761">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">-Drugs scarce.<br>
-Electricity cut off.<br>
-Medical equipment limited.</p>
<p>With hundreds of people in need of intensive
care, hospitals in <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gaza?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gaza</a>
are on the brink of collapse. <a
href="https://t.co/SlfXInCG9Q">pic.twitter.com/SlfXInCG9Q</a></p>
— ICRC (@ICRC) <a
href="https://twitter.com/ICRC/status/1002576561927835649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June
1, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>On Thursday, the International Committee of the Red
Cross announced it was dispatching two teams of <a
href="https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2018/05/31/world/middleeast/31reuters-israel-palestinans-health.html">war
surgeons</a> and medical supplies to Gaza to shore
up a healthcare system it said was on the “brink of
collapse.”</p>
<div id="file-63766">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">With the health system in <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gaza?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gaza</a>
on the brink of collapse, <a
href="https://twitter.com/RMardiniICRC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RMardiniICRC</a>
has announced additional <a
href="https://twitter.com/ICRC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ICRC</a>
medical support <a
href="https://t.co/g3ZKo930vp">pic.twitter.com/g3ZKo930vp</a></p>
— ICRC UK & Ireland (@ICRC_uk) <a
href="https://twitter.com/ICRC_uk/status/1002116458091044865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May
31, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>The ICRC <a
href="http://blogs.icrc.org/ilot/2018/05/31/gaza-surgeons-supplies-sent-gaza-meet-overwhelming-medical-needs/">said</a>
the priority for its six-month mission will be to
treat gunshot wound victims, among them about 1,350
patients who will need three to five operations each.</p>
<div id="file-63771">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"Imagine, 1,350 people with
complex cases who will need 3 to 5 operations
each, a total of 4,000 surgeries, half of which
will be carried out by <a
href="https://twitter.com/ICRC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ICRC</a>
teams. I think such a caseload would overwhelm
any health system in the world, including in
Geneva.” -<a
href="https://twitter.com/RMardiniICRC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RMardiniICRC</a>
on <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gaza?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gaza</a>
<a href="https://t.co/7cSZsRnBkT">pic.twitter.com/7cSZsRnBkT</a></p>
— ICRC NYC (@ICRC_NYC) <a
href="https://twitter.com/ICRC_NYC/status/1002197558469545984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May
31, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>“Such a caseload would overwhelm any health system,”
the ICRC <a
href="http://blogs.icrc.org/ilot/2018/05/31/gaza-surgeons-supplies-sent-gaza-meet-overwhelming-medical-needs/">stated</a>.
“In Gaza, the situation is worsened by chronic
shortages of drugs, equipment and electricity.”</p>
<h2>“Toxic slum”</h2>
<p>The sustained protests in Gaza are to call for the
right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes
and lands now in Israel, and to demand an end to
Israel’s more than decade-long <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/tags/gaza-siege">siege</a>
of the territory.</p>
<p>Gaza’s two million residents are being “caged in a
toxic slum from birth to death,” United Nations human
rights chief <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/tags/zeid-raad-al-hussein">Zeid
Ra’ad al-Hussein</a> <a
href="http://www.dw.com/en/gaza-residents-caged-in-a-toxic-slum-un-human-rights-chief-zeid/a-43835139">told</a>
a special session of the <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/tags/un-human-rights-council">UN
Human Rights Council</a> on Friday.</p>
<p>Zeid also told the council that there is “little
evidence” that Israel is doing anything to minimize
casualties.</p>
<p>He confirmed that protesters’ “actions alone do not
appear to constitute the imminent threat to life or
deadly injury which could justify the use of lethal
force.”</p>
<p>Zeid spoke to the council as it was considering a
draft resolution on sending an international war
crimes probe to Gaza.</p>
<p>Last week, the Human Rights Council <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/maureen-clare-murphy/50-hamas-members-claim-does-not-justify-gaza-massacre">voted
by 29-2</a> to establish an independent inquiry into
the violence in Gaza.</p>
<p>Only the United States and Australia voted against an
inquiry, but several European Union governments
including the UK and Germany were among the 14 that
abstained.</p>
<p>Medical Aid for Palestinians, a charity that has been
providing emergency assistance amid the growing
calamity, and a dozen other organizations, have <a
href="https://www.map.org.uk/news/archive/post/854-uk-based-organisations-deeply-concerned-by-uk-government-decision-not-to-support-un-gaza-inquiry">criticized</a>
the British government’s refusal to support an inquiry
“to assess violations of international law in the
context of large-scale civilian protests in Gaza.”</p>
<div id="file-63776">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A vital plea for the UK to
take international law seriously in <a
href="https://twitter.com/gaza?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Gaza</a>.
The UK must reconsider failure to support an
independent UN Commission of Inquiry to
investigate all violations. Proud <a
href="https://twitter.com/MedicalAidPal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MedicalAidPal</a>
is standing with these other excellent
organisations in speaking out. <a
href="https://t.co/HYNkIZPlDw">pic.twitter.com/HYNkIZPlDw</a></p>
— Rohan Talbot (@rohantalbot) <a
href="https://twitter.com/rohantalbot/status/1002609909031161858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June
1, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>But attempts to hold Israel accountable continue amid
the intransigent opposition of Israel’s backers.</p>
<p>On Friday evening, the UN Security Council <a
href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/06/vetoes-unsc-resolution-protection-palestinians-180601201831238.html">voted</a>
on a <a
href="http://www.innercitypress.com/gaza19unsczoabi053118.html">draft
resolution</a> put forward by Kuwait, deploring
“excessive, disproportionate and indiscriminate force
by the Israeli forces” and calling for “measures to
guarantee the safety and protection” of Palestinian
civilians.</p>
<p>It also called for an end to the blockade of Gaza and
deplored “the firing of rockets from the Gaza Strip
against Israeli civilian areas.”</p>
<p>Ten countries, including permanent members Russia and
France, voted in favor. Four, including Britain,
abstained.</p>
<p>Despite having enough votes to pass, the resolution
was killed by US ambassador <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/tags/nikki-haley">Nikki
Haley</a>, who – as she had <a
href="https://twitter.com/USUN/status/1002327541850558465">promised</a>
to do – cast her country’s veto.</p>
<p>Haley then put forward her own draft resolution
absolving Israel of any responsibility for the
violence in Gaza and laying all blame for the
situation on Hamas.</p>
<p>The United States was the only country to vote in
favor.</p>
<br>
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