Israel’s violation of International Humanitarian Law

March 11, 2019 HUMAN RIGHTS , Middle East , Opinion , OPINION/NEWS

AFP photo

By

Irfan Khan

International Humanitarian Law is a set of rules which aims to limit the effects of armed conflict. It protects persons who are not or are no longer participating in the hostilities and restricts the means and methods of warfare. International Humanitarian Law is also known as the ‘Law of War’ or the ‘Law of Armed Conflict’. Violation of International Humanitarian Law is occurring in various part of the world.

Last year there was a protest along the Gaza border fence. Israeli security forces have killed more than 180 Palestinians. Accordioning to the UN Commission of Inquiry, Israeli forces were unable to justify such a killing of humanity. Chairperson Santiago Canton told journalists in Geneva that “the Commission has found reasonable grounds to believe that Israeli security forces committed serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.”

He further remarked “These violations clearly warrant criminal investigation and prosecution and we call on Israel to conduct meaningful investigations into these serious violations and to provide timely justice for those killed and injured.”

The Commission was created by the UN Human Right Council in May last year, which comprised 47 members. The Commission was given an assignment of investigating all violence linked to anti-Israeli demonstrations on the Israel-Gaza border from 30 March to 31 December 2018 and conducted 325 interviews with victims and witnesses.

The Commission investigated vitriolic results: 6,106 Palestinian were affected with live ammunition while protesting and 3,098 were injured by bullet fragmentation and gas canisters. Moreover, Israeli snipers shot health workers, journalists and disabled persons. Even children faced such cruelty.

Commissioner Betty Murungi gave narration of a child of about 11, who was shot while playing football near the fence with Israel. Another Commissioner Sara Hossain argued that although the killings have lessened, we still see protected groups of individuals including children…still being killed as recently as three weeks ago” She further added that “We found that in all of the demonstrations, there was violence in the form of the use of the throwing of stones and burning of tyres by a minority of demonstrators.” She further stressed that “There were women and children present, there were people having poetry readings, playing music, waving flags, things that can’t in any way be violent … I think the characterization of all the demonstrators as violent is something we wouldn’t agree with.”

Commission chairperson Santiago Canton called on the de facto authorities in Gaza to ensure that demonstrations were peaceful. He remarked that “The Commission finds that these protests were a call for help from a population in despair.” The Commission of Inquiry’s full report is dated 18 March 2019 and is due to be presented to the Human Rights Council.