Ref: 58/2018
Date: 08 June 2018
Press Release
Israeli occupation forces killed four demonstrators, including a child, and injured 618 others on the eleventh Friday of the return and siege break marches.
The International Commission to Support Palestinians’ Rights (ICSPR) strongly condemns the continued targeting by the Israeli occupation forces of Palestinians participating in peaceful marches for the eleventh consecutive Friday, where the occupation forces use excessive and lethal force in dealing with children, women and young people participating in the marches, and deliberately targeting medical staff and journalists.
According to information published by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, since Friday noon (08 June 2018) until 19:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces killed 4 Palestinians, including Haytham Mohammed al-Jamal, 15 yr, from Rafah, Ziad Jadallah al-Barim, 28yr, from Bani Suhaila – Khan Yunis, Yousef Saleem Al Faseeh, 29 yr, and Emad Nabil Ali Abu Darabi, 20 yr, from Beit Lahia, while 618 Palestinians were wounded by live bullets and gas inhalation. It is noteworthy that among the injured are 48 children, 20 women, 4 journalists, and 2 paramedics.
ICSPR considers that the killing of Palestinian demonstrator by Israeli soldiers a clear denial and disregard for the human rights and international humanitarian law, and stresses that the method of the Israeli occupation forces to deal with the Palestinian demonstrators took place within the framework of implementing a systematic plan, and a political decision of the highest levels in the Israeli occupation state. Therefore, we demand the following:
- ICSPR reiterates its warning to the Israeli occupation and its military forces against the policy of continuing to target civilians and peaceful demonstrators, and to take legal responsibility for this, and warns the international community against the continued silence on Israeli crimes against demonstrators.
- ICSPR considers the Israeli military commissions of inquiry are no more than an Israeli play, which carries a new Israeli disregard for the standards of international law and aims at further fortification and protection of Israeli soldiers in the face of justice. The results of the investigation, which were announced in the killing of Razan al-Najjar, are proof, which confirms that the current Israeli legal and judicial system serves as a cover for Israel and its military and civilian agents alike against any legal accountability.
- ICSPR demands that the Human Rights Council and its President to expedite the formation of the Commission of Inquiry and Fact-Finding, and ensure that its members have extensive experience in this field and have the integrity to act independently and transparently.
- ICSPR calls upon the Palestinian leadership to refer the crimes of the occupation against the demonstrators and all files to the Permanent International Criminal Court, under article 14 of the Rome Charter.
Regards,
