With the use of excessive violence by Israeli forces the disturbances in the occupied territories have strongly escalated this week. ICCO, the Interchurch Organisation for Development Co-operation and IKV, Inter Church Peace Council, urge the Dutch government to take on the international level further steps against Israel. The Dutch government already recognised Israeli responsibility for the recent violent confrontations. It must now suit the action to the word and pursuit international protection for Palestinian civilians and the establishment international committee of inquiry. For a real solution, Israel must withdraw from all occupied territories, and implement the right of return of Palestinian refugees.
Palestinian non-governmental organisations in the Palestinian territories and in Israel have rightly demanded that international sanctions should be imposed against Israel.
The Dutch government must seriously take this demand into consideration. The Netherlands has obliged itself to actively persue the fulfilment of the (Fourth) Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (1949). This convention is applicable to the Occupied Territories and East-Jerusalem. Additionally, within the European context, the Netherlands has political responsibility. In the Association Agreement between Israel and the European Union, clauses are included regarding human rights.
According to ICCO and IKV, the Netherlands has political, moral, and legal responsibility and can apply existing agreements to end the excessive violence and the violations of human rights in the Palestinian territories and Israel. Within the UN Security Council, the Netherlands must seek temporary international protection of Palestinian civilians and the formation of an international inquiry committee to investigate the violations of international law.
For the ultimate resolution of the conflict, the Netherlands must demand implementation of the relevant UN-resolutions that call for the immediate withdrawal of Israel from all in 1967 occupied territories, according to UN-resolution 242 and 338 and the implementation of other UN-resolutions such as the right of Palestinian refugees to return.
ICCO and IKV support the demonstration that will be held this Friday 6 October in The Hague.
Press contacts:
ICCO, Erik van Velzen, telephone: (030) 6927836, 0653-967 918
ICCO, Arjan El Fassed, telephone: (030) 6927840, 06 51-267 597
IKV, Juul Muller, telefoon: (0294) 457 828
IKV, Jan Jaap van Oosterzee, telefoon: 06553-37912
October 5, 2000
Yesterday's clashes resulted in the death of 9 Palestinians bringing the death toll to 61 since the beginning of Israel's lethal repression of Palestinians on Friday.
Three martyrs killed yesterday were identified today. Mohannad Fares, 24, from Deir Al Ghusoun in the district of Toulkarem and a member of the Palestinian national forces, died from gunshot wounds in his liver, lungs and abdomen. Ayman Aloh, 20, from Hai Adurj, was shot in the chest and died instantly. Inside the green line, Mohammad Khamaiseh, from Kufur Kana, died from injuries sustained the previous day.
Yesterday, 117 people were injured by Israeli Occupation forces. 30 people were injured in Hebron 3 critically, 14 were injured in Ramallah, 2 critically, 16 in Tulkarem, 2 critically, 22 in Jenin, 1 critically, 6 injuries in Bethlehem, 2 in Salfit, 2 in Nablus and 25 in Gaza, including one extremely critical case. So far, Israeli occupation forces have injured 2657 Palestinians.
LAW
PO Box 20873
Jerusalem
Tel: 00 972 2 583 3428/3298/3537/3530/3430
Fax: 00 972 2 583 3317
Email: law@lawsociety.org
Website: http://www.lawsociety.org
Over 65 Palestinians have been killed in ongoing confrontations between Palestinian protestors and the Israeli military. According to DCI/PS documentation, no less than 17 Palestinian children have been martyred, and 3 other children have been declared clinically dead. In addition, over 2,000 Palestinians have been injured, with at least 12 children having been shot in the eyes by the Israeli military forces. To date, approximately 550 Palestinians have been arrested, with 350 from Jerusalem, and at least 200 children.
Since the beginning of the confrontations and in addition to the brutal force used against Palestinian protestors, Israeli soldiers and settlers have attacked Palestinian civilians and their property in areas all over the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In Bethlehem, approximately 9,000 residents living in the area around Rachel's Tomb are living in terrible conditions. Last night, the Israeli occupation forces attacked the electricity generator, leaving most residents of Bethlehem and Beit Jala without electricity throughout the night. Approximately 100 houses in the area have been effected by live bullets, either by destroying water tanks on the roofs, or from bullets entering the house itself. The Israeli army has occupied around 30 residential buildings, evacuating families residing on the top floors, and using the roof to fire on Palestinian protestors. Families in Al-Aida and Al-Azza refugee camps and residents on the north side of Bethlehem have been most seriously affected. Near Bethlehem, Israeli settlers attacked the village of Teku'a, firing live ammunition towards at least 6 houses, terrorizing residents and destroying property. In the village of Beit Sahour, adjacent to Bethlehem, Israeli military forces occupied a private home two nights ago. The family, including both parents and five children, were imprisoned in the bathroom for approximately 5 hours while Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition at Palestinian protestors. The house has been completely destroyed as a result. In addition, in the past 2 days, approximately 100 families have vacated the area as people fled the random shooting of the Israeli military. Approximately 40 of those houses have sustained damage from the bullets.
In Hebron, a 24-hour curfew has been in effect for the past 4 days in the Old City, preventing the approximately 40,000 Palestinians living in the Israeli controlled area from leaving their homes for any reason, including seeking medical treatment. Residents of the area indicate that due to the length of the curfew, families are experiencing a food shortage. Also, in the Hebron area, the Israeli army occupied several houses in the Al-Sha'aba area, near the illegal Israeli settlement of Kiryat Arba, to the northeast of Hebron. According to DCI/PS fieldwork, the homes of Rabi'a Skafi, Bilal Jabari, and Zuheir Al-Sayyouri have been occupied. In the Tel Rumeida neighborhood of Hebron, Israeli soldiers occupied several more houses, transforming them into military installations. Moreover, Israeli settlers attacked several homes in the area and destroyed Palestinian property. Dozens of families have fled the Old City and Tel Rumeida areas in fear of the random attacks of soldiers and settlers. In Yatta, south of Hebron, Israeli settlers set on fire Palestinian agricultural land.
In Ramallah/Al-Bireh, the Al-Balu'a area, at the city's northern entrance, has been under constant attack. Homes in the area have been hit with live ammunition, including 500mm rounds and ammunition from helicopter gunships. Again, the Israeli army occupied 3 homes, turning them into military installations and terrorizing the families in the process. The homes have been seriously damaged as a result. Residents of a 6-story building in the area, owned by Mohammad 'Abd Al-Dayyam, fled the fighting, after which the Israeli military entered the building and destroyed most of the apartments. The Israeli army also entered the homes of the Al-Deek and Al-Nabout families and destroyed furniture in the houses. Similar incidents occurred last night in the Jebel Al-Taweel neighborhood, including an attack on the home of the Al-Aqel family, during which a Palestinian girl was injured.
In the city of Nablus, the areas around the Tomb of Joseph, in particular Amman and Al-Quds streets and Balatta refuegee camp, have suffered from intense Israeli gunfire. Between 20-30 families residing on Al-Quds Street have been evacuated due to the assault, as well as between 1,000 to 1,500 residents of the Harat al-Hashasheen neighborhood, adjacent to the site of the Tomb. On Amman Street, a bomb entered the home of a Palestinian family, injuring 7 people. The Israeli assault on Nablus has included the use of live ammunition from the ground and air, via helicopter gunships, anti-armor weaponry (LAW missiles), as well as machine guns firing shells 10cm long and 3cm wide. In the northern West Bank, Al-Aqaba village, which is surrounded on all sides by Israeli military camps, is currently under 24-hour curfew. Residents there are suffering from food shortages. In Beit Dajjan, a village of 6,000, the Israeli army entered, cutting electricity and destroying personal property.
In Rafah, in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military violently occupied the building of the Hassan Al-Soutari family, ordering the 15 members of the family living there, including the children, to lay on the ground, initially, and then forced them to remain in the ground floor apartment all last night. The military used the home as a base from which to fire upon Palestinian protestors. The extensive gunfire, including firing missiles, has totally destroyed the building. In the same area, an educational institute has been completely destroyed by gunfire and missiles. Moreover, families fled a 6 floor residential building, near Netzarim settlement, in fear, following which soldiers launched attacks on Palestinians. This building has also been completely destroyed. Residents of the Abraj Hayineda neighborhood of Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip, have fled their homes in fear after seeing the Israeli army transporting tanks and ammunition to the Gaza Strip and helicopters hovering over the region.
In light of the above, DCI/PS calls for the following: