The National Council on Canada Arab Relations (NCCAR) calls on the Canadian Government to immediately condemn Israel's campaign of terror against Palestinians.
The provocative visit by Ariel Sharon triggered the violence and Israel must bear full responsibility for its consequences knowing all too well that previous visits by Sharon, the "hero" of the Sabra and Shatilla massacres have resulted in violence.
Since the outbreak of the confrontation on Thursday, Israeli security forces killed over 35 civilians, and injured over 1000. According to reports by independent observers, and human right groups Israeli forces are shooting at protesters indiscriminately. The same sources stated that most of those killed and injured were targeted by live ammunition clearly intending to inflict as much damage as possible.
The blood letting of innocent civilians praying at the mosque underscores Israel's unwillingness and inability to protect and secure access for non Jews to their holy sites and lends credibility and necessity to Palestinians' claim that they should retain full sovereignty over their Occupied East Jerusalem.
The National Council calls on Honourable Minister Axworthy to intervene with Israeli officials to stop at once the carnage and restart meaningful negotiations that ensure the implementation of international law as expressed by UN security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and the Geneva Convention.
For further comments and information please contact Dr. Atif Kubursi (905) 631-6290 or Mazen Chouaib at NCCAR (613) 238-3795
Attention Mr Giacomelli UN Special Rapporteur to the Occupied Palestinian Territories
2 October 2000
Subject: Illegal Israeli actions in the occupied Palestinian territory
Dear Mr Giacomelli,
On behalf of the Palestinian people, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, as human rights defenders and a human rights organisation based in the occupied territory would like to address the above urgent matter.
As you are aware, violence erupted in Jerusalem, and has escalated between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli Occupation Forces since Thursday 28 September following the visit of Ariel Sharon to the compound of the Dome of the Rock, one of the holiest sites for Islam. Such a gesture was immediately interpreted as an act of provocation intended to highlight Israeli control over Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem. This has had the effect of derailing the peace process negotiations which in any event was evolving on a very fragile basis. Nevertheless, the Government of Israel facilitated Ariel Sharon's visit by providing hundreds of Israeli soldiers as his escort.
Clashes were reported during Ariel Sharon's visit and several Palestinians were injured in the area of the Dome of the Rock and subsequently in other locations of the West Bank.
On Friday, 29 September, Israeli Occupation Forces reinforced their presence within the site of the Dome of the Rock. Civilian protests were met by heavy shooting with live ammunition, rubber coated bullets and teargas. Seven Palestinians were shot dead by the Israeli Occupation Forces and more than two hundred were injured – thirty civilians were critically injured. Soon after, the protests spread to different parts of the West Bank and more than one hundred civilians were reported injured.
Since the early morning of 30 September, protests took place throughout the occupied Palestinian territory. More than seventy civilians were injured in the Gaza strip. The majority of them are under the age of 17. Clashes between Palestinian civilians and Israeli Occupation Forces occurred near the Israeli settlements of Netzarim and Kfar Darum in the middle areas of the Gaza Strip, in Khan Younis, Rafah and Erez crossing borders.
In three days of clashes the number of Palestinian victims amount to 28 dead and more than 600 hundred injured during the widespread confrontations. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society indicates that over 900 injuries are reported at various emergency rooms of which 96 are caused by live ammunition. Most of the victims are civilians, who in their protests did not resort to the use of weapons. Stone throwers were being fired at by the Israeli Occupation Forces using live ammunition, rubber coated steel bullets including anti-tank missiles (lau).
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reports that its ambulances were prevented from entering various affected areas and thus have been unable on many occasions to reach the wounded persons. Furthermore, four PRCS vehicles were directly hit by gun fire, and one emergency medical personnel has been shot and killed in the Gaza Strip on Saturday 30 September, while driving wounded persons to the hospital.
In light of the above, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights holds the Government of Israel and the Israeli Occupation Forces responsible for the widespread violence in the occupied Palestinian territory. It was first triggered by the attempt of Ariel Sharon to visit the Muslim holy site in Jerusalem, then fueled by the unjustifiable and heavy presence of Israeli troops inside the compound of the Dome of the Rock during the Friday prayers.
Furthermore, PCHR condemns the Israeli Occupation Forces excessive use of force and other related grave breaches of the Fourth 1949 Geneva Convention:
The non respect of the principle of proportionality under international humanitarian law, whenever the use of force is necessary.
In view of the above substantive information confirmed by the presence of international media as well as independent observers, and in light of your mandate conferred by resolution 1993/2 A of 19 February 1993, we call upon you to investigate these specific Israeli violations of international human rights law and grave breaches of international humanitarian law, in particular the Fourth 1949 Geneva Convention.
We count on your supportive attention in this urgent and grave matter. We would be grateful if you inform us promptly on your concrete action with regard to this dire situation, as we believe that many more Palestinians may die in the next days.
Respectfully yours,
Raji Sourani
Director, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
Gaza
The Center for Economic and Social Rights deplores the current round of Israeli violence against Palestinians. In the last 5 days at least 50 Palestinians have been killed and more than 1000 injured in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.
The Israeli army has been using overwhelming and disproportionate force against Palestinian protesters. The Israeli army has been firing at civilians indiscriminately, entering Palesitnian controlled areas (in violation of the Oslo Accords), putting numerous communities under siege, firing from tanks and helicopters and using missiles, snipers and rockets against civilians and in densely populated neighborhoods. Much Palestinian property and numerous homes have been destroyed by Israeli rockets and missiles.
Israel is blatantly violating its committments under the IV Geneva Conventions, the UN Charter, numerous human rights treaties and the Oslo Accords. Despite this, the situation is depicted in the US press as the fault of the Palestinians.
Inside Israel, the Palestinian community is also under siege, with nine deaths and hundreds of injuries in Palestinian towns and areas such as Arabi, Umm al Fahm, Haifa, Jaffa and Nazareth. Mass arrests are taking place amongst Palestinian citizens of Israel who are exercising their basic rights. There are even reports of Israeli police entering hospitals to arrest wounded demonstrators.
CESR has launched a new section on its website (www.cesr.org): BREAKING NEWS FROM PALESTINE which will be updated regularly. In addition, CESR endorses the following actions occuring this week in NYC in support of the Palestinians under siege. Events in other parts of North America are listed on our website as well as suggestions for contacting your local media.
Lucy Mair
International Program Associate
Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR)
162 Montague Street, 2nd floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: (718) 237-9145, ext. 18
Fax: (718) 237-9147
Email: LMAIR@cesr.org
Website: http://www.cesr.org/
Letters to the High Commissioner of Human Rights and the United Nations Secretary-General
Dear Friends,
Al-Haq jointly with Al-Mezan, sent a letter to both the High Commissioner of Human Rights Mrs. Mary Robinson, and the United Nations General Secretary Mr. Kofi Annan, requesting immediate intervention to stop the massacres and to use all means to guarantee the protection and safety of the Palestinian civilians.
October 2, 2000 Secretary-General of the United Nations Mr. Kofi Annan
Fax: (07-2820966)
Dear Mr. Annan,
Since Friday, September 29, 2000 until the writing of this letter, the Israeli forces continue their aggressive actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. They have opened fire against Palestinian civilians in the al-Haram al-Sharif and in other parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. As a result 34 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds more have been injured. Many of the injured and killed were under the age of 18. The majority of the injuries (over 60 %) were to the upper parts of the body. In a dangerous and unprecedented move towards the escalation of the violence, the Israeli forces launched anti-tank missiles in the Gaza Strip into a populated area, resulting in tens of casualties among Palestinian civilians. The excessive use of disproportionate force intended to kill and injure the highest number of people is clear. We the signatories to this letter confirm the following:
1. The excessive use of lethal force by the Israeli Military against Palestinian protestors is a violation of international humanitarian law and the principles of proportionality.
2. The large number of injuries to the head and chest indicates the deliberate intention of the Israeli forces to inflict the highest number of casualties and unnecessary suffering among civilians.
3. The Israeli forces' excessive force was used against non-combatants and illegal targets: innocent bystanders, journalists and medical personnel were deliberately targeted. Previously, Al-Haq has documented the deliberate targeting of journalists, and again, have evidence during the present clashes that there was deliberate targeting.
4. The excessive use of disproportionate force, using live ammunition, deploying snipers, using anti-tank missile, and assault helicopters to disperse Palestinian demonstrators is unjustifiable and an aggravation of the situation resulting in the escalation of violence.
5. There has been a deliberate negligence in using non-violent riot control methods.
Due to the grave circumstances, we al-Haq and al-Mezan , are addressing you in your capacity as the Secretary-General of the United Nations. We are requesting that you take immediate action, through your high standing in the international community, to stop these massacres and to use every available means of contact and mechanisms to guarantee the protection and safety of civilians in times of war. The situation is deteriorating and calls for the intervention of the international community to stop the systematic killing of Palestinian civilians.
October 2, 2000 Mrs. Mary Robinson High Commissioner of Human Rights Fax: (004122) 9179003
Dear Mrs. Robinson,
Since Friday, September 29, 2000 until the writing of this letter, the Israeli forces continue their aggressive actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. They have opened fire against Palestinian civilians in the al-Haram al-Sharif and in other parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. As a result 34 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds more have been injured. Many of the injured and killed were under the age of 18. The majority of the injuries (over 60 %) were to the upper parts of the body. In a dangerous and unprecedented move towards the escalation of the violence, the Israeli forces launched anti-tank missiles in the Gaza Strip into a populated area, resulting in tens of casualties among Palestinian civilians. The excessive use of disproportionate force intended to kill and injure the highest number of people is clear. We the signatories to this letter confirm the following:
1. The excessive use of lethal force by the Israeli Military against Palestinian protestors is a violation of international humanitarian law and the principles of proportionality.
2. The large number of injuries to the head and chest indicates the deliberate intention of the Israeli forces to inflict the highest number of casualties and unnecessary suffering among civilians.
3. The Israeli forces' excessive force was used against non-combatants and illegal targets: innocent bystanders, journalists and medical personnel were deliberately targeted. Previously, Al-Haq has documented the deliberate targeting of journalists, and again, have evidence during the present clashes that there was deliberate targeting.
4. The excessive use of disproportionate force, using live ammunition, deploying snipers, using anti-tank missile, and assault helicopters to disperse Palestinian demonstrators is unjustifiable and an aggravation of the situation resulting in the escalation of violence.
5. There has been a deliberate negligence in using non-violent riot control methods.
Due to the grave circumstances, we al-Haq and al-Mezan , are addressing you in your capacity as the High Commissioner of Human Rights. We are requesting that you take immediate action, through your high standing in the international community, to stop these massacres and to use every available means of contact and mechanisms to guarantee the protection and safety of civilians in times of war. The situation is deteriorating and calls for the intervention of the international community to stop the systematic killing of Palestinian civilians.