September 29, 2003
Three Years of Israeli Violations of International Humanitarian Law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories: The Need for Accountability
Three Years of Israeli Violations of International Humanitarian Law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories:  The Need for Accountability

Ref: 126/2003

 

Today, on
the third anniversary of the outbreak of the Al-Aqsa Intifada, PCHR submitted a
memorandum to the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention Relative to
the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of August 12, 1949,
summarizing violations of the Convention over the last three years and calling
for immediate action to protect Palestinian civilians. 

 

The
memorandum presents updated information on Israel’s systematic violations of
international humanitarian law, specifically the Fourth Geneva Convention,
against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs)
since 29 September 2000.  The memorandum highlights in particular grave
breaches of the Convention, providing statistics and information on willful
killings, assassinations, torture and inhuman treatment, closures and curfews, unlawful
deportations and transfers, wilfully causing great suffering and serious
injury, and extensive destruction and expropriation of civilian property. 

 

The
memorandum further reminds the High Contracting Parties of their legal
obligations, as defined in the Convention, including to ensure Israel’s respect
of the Convention in the OPTs and calls for immediate action in this respect.