For forty days the Palestinians were prevented from enjoying their basic rights in many ways, and violence was acted on them by both the Israeli forces and the Israeli settlers.
The Israeli occupation forces have exceeded all limits by oppressing the Palestinians. Starting from the first day of Ramadan, Palestinians in Jerusalem were prevented from their usual gathering on the stairs of Damascus Gate during Ramadan evenings, and their peaceful activities were aggressively suppressed. Moreover, they were attacked and assaulted while worshipping in Al-Aqsa mosque, and their prayers were stopped by the Israeli forces attacked with gas bombs and rubber bullets. Furthermore, they were banned from protesting against the actions of the Israeli forces, and their protests were opposed to a detention campaign that threatened every voice that calls for justice.
Meanwhile, in the suburb of Sheikh Jarrah, Palestinian residents were given a warrant of eviction from their homes in order to be given to Israeli settlers. And their calls for justice are being silenced by the Israeli forces in all ways possible. As the suburb of Sheikh Jarrah is being closed from all its entrances, Palestinians are placed under curfew whereas the settlers move freely outside and inside the suburb, Palestinians face attacks by both settlers and Israeli forces, and the Palestinians’ protests are suppressed and banned.
On the other hand, in the occupied territories in 1948, the Palestinians live with continuous threats of murder. Settlers there assault the Palestinians and attack their homes, chanting “death for Arabs”, while the Israeli police support them and show consent for their barbaric actions. Ironically, they marked the houses of Arabs during the day in order to be attacked at night, as Hitler did with the Jews decades ago.
The situation in the West Bank is not better, as the innocent Palestinian protesters confront the Israeli guns and bullets that never hesitate to penetrate their bodies and end their lives. AOHR UK proclaims that until today 26 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli forces in the West Bank, and more than 4000 were injured.
Elsewhere in Palestine, the Israeli warplanes have not left the sky of Gaza for ten days, bombing apartments and targeting civilians aggressively and mercilessly. The Israeli occupation forces claim that their only target is the spots of individuals involved with Palestinian factions. However, the results show a way different target, as, until today, 213 Palestinian civilians were killed by the Israeli airstrikes, including 61 children and 36 women. Moreover, thousands of Palestinian families in Gaza were displaced from their homes to UNNRWA schools seeking safety.
The Israeli occupation forces’ aggressive actions towards the Palestinians show disrespect to International Law and violations of international treaties that call for the preservation of fundamental human rights and human dignity.
The Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu is facing strong opposition from some political parties in Israel, stating that he is taking advantage of the current unstable political situation to strengthen his position in the government during the elections in Israel. Yet, he refuses to stop the aggression against Palestinians.
Amidst all calls for pacification from different states in the world, the UK government justifies Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. AOHR-UK denounces the words of Foreign Office minister, James Cleverly, who showed the UK support for the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip in the House of Commons on Wednesday, claiming that Israel has a “legitimate right to defend itself”. AOHR-UK finds this justification disrespectful for International Law that calls in the first place for human dignity and the right to life. However, Israel’s actions against the Palestinians show a violation of these basic rights, and it should be held accountable for its war crimes. Since all the victims in Gaza are civilians and have no hand in the political situation around them.
The Palestinians in Gaza are not only losing their lives but also losing all means of life even after the end of the war. Since the first day of the Israeli bombardment of Gaza, hundreds of homes and apartments were completely destroyed on top of their residents. In addition, the infrastructure of main and central streets was destroyed to prevent people from moving freely in the city, and prevent the ambulances from finding their way to hospitals and thereafter lose many chances to save the lives of the injured. Furthermore, the Israeli warplanes bombed several governmental compounds, violating international conventions and laws. As well as targeting public facilities in order to destroy the lives of Palestinians in Gaza even after the end of the aggression.
AOHR UK condemns the unjustified killing of the Palestinian civilians, and recognizes the Palestinians’ right to freedom of expression, and opposes any attempt to silence them.
The losses of the Gaza strip until today exceeded 244 million dollars, and the number is getting bigger with every hour passes.
Playing its important role in calling for justice, equality, and international peace, AOHR UK sent a letter to the European Union to speak up about the unjust situation imposed on Palestinians and asked it to take a serious step to end the Israeli violence against the Palestinian civilians.
In its letter, AOHR UK mentioned several significant demands. First, to stop Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. Second, to employ sanctions against Israel for its ongoing persecution of Palestinians. Third, to refuse arms sales to the Israeli regime. And forth, to reaffirm the human rights of the Palestinians. AOHR UK calls on the EU to help enforce the law on the oppressors, and the oppressed to gain justice, as its silence is seen as support for the Israeli regime to continue its war crimes against the Palestinians.
