16-2-2014
On Thursday and Friday, 13 and
14 February, 2014, Israeli occupation forces (IOF) killed one man and
injured 18 people including four children. The attacks raise the death
toll to 47 since the beginning of 2014, of which 7 were children. Al
Mezan Center for Human Rights calls on the international community to
intervene to protect civilians and ensure the respect of international
humanitarian law principles in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).
At approximately 2:15 pm on Friday, 14 February, 2014,
the IOF fired live ammunition and launched tear gas at tens of
Palestinian youth and children who were near the separation fence east
of the Islamic Cemetery east of Jabaliya, in the North Gaza district.
The shooting continued until 6:00 pm. Of the 17 people injured in the
attack, four were children. Nine people sustained injuries from live
ammunition, one person sustained injuries from a rubber bullet, six
people were injured by tear gas canisters, and one person suffered
asphyxiation due to tear gas inhalation.
Just one day prior at approximately 2:30 pm on Thursday,
13 February, 2014, IOF opened fire at Ibrahim Salman Mansour, 35, and
Rafeq Baker Al Houli, 21, while they were collecting rubble in the
Malaka area east of Az-Zaitoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City. As a
result of the attack, Ibrahim was killed and Rafeq sustained a bullet
injury to his right leg.
Al Mezan condemns the IOF’s deliberate attacks against
Palestinian civilians in the border areas. These attacks raise questions
as to Israeli continuous violations of international humanitarian law
in its treatment of Palestinian civilians, who are protected and must
not be attacked. These attacks signal violations of articles (3) and
(32) of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibit attacks against
life and bodily integrity, especially acts of killing of protected
persons.
Al Mezan calls on State Parties to abide by their
obligations as per article (146) of the Fourth Geneva Convention and to
exert pressure on Israel to cease its attacks against civilians in the
Gaza Strip and ensure enforcement of international law standards and
respect for the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Ends
