Human rights situation in the OT – CHR – NGO statement

QUESTION OF THE VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE

OCCUPIED ARAB TERRITORIES, INCLUDING PALESTINE

Written statement* submitted by the Organization for Defending Victims of Violence (ODVV),

a non-governmental organization in special consultative status

The Secretary-General has received the following written statement which is circulated in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31.

[15 January 2002]

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*This written statement is issued, unedited, in the language(s) received from the submitting non-governmental organization(s).

1 – For over half a century the most amazing and extensive form of violation of human rights, oppression and occupation of Palestine is being carried out by Israel. By implementing the most inhuman methods, Israel has abused the fundamental human rights of the Palestinian people. Although 2001 was named the “Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations”, but still in the occupied territories, Israel is continuing its racist treatment towards the Palestinians. The continued ignorance of the Zionists’ anti-human rights treatment of the Palestinians has made them even more daring to escalate and continue their treatments. This policy has intensified since the incidents of 28 September 2000, and in particular after Ariel Sharron becoming the prime minister.

2 – Between September 29 and October 31, 2000, 747 Palestinians have been killed, 163 of which are children under the age of 18. 85 children were killed in the West Bank and 78 were killed in the Gaza Strip, and a total of more than 20,000 Palestinians were injured during this period. These facts and figures show that the occupied territories have been subjected to a wave of murder and violent attacks on the Palestinians by Israel in the past year. This kind of violence is unprecedented in the 54 years of the existence of Israel. Investigations show that in the past year the Israeli forces fire shots that are targeted at upper side of the bodies of the Palestinians. The exact percentages of the injuries inflicted upon the Palestinians is as follows: 17.1% head injuries, 3.1% eye injuries, 1.2% neck injuries, 3.9% chest injuries, 2.7% abdomen injuries, 2.7% back injuries, 16% upper ext. injuries, 18.1% lower ext. injuries, 8.5% injuries due to gas inhale, 18.3% other areas in the bodies, 4.9% multiple injuries, 0.8% assault and battery, 0.7% pelvic injuries and 2% psychological injuries. These are the figures for the injuries or death inflicted on the Palestinian population. This is a direct violation of Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states, “everyone has a right to life, liberty and security of person”.

3 – From the beginning of the troubles in the occupied territories that became known as the Al-Aqsa Intifada, Israel has treated it as a war and is resisting the Palestinians with all her military might and force by using tear gas, plastic bullets, live ammunition, chemical bullets, depleted uranium, tanks and machine guns to thwart demonstrations and protests. On top of this the areas inhabited by the Palestinians is not spared by the onslaught of the Israeli fighting machinery, and the residential areas of the Palestinians are constantly hit by Israeli missiles, and even sometimes LAV missiles have been launched too. Article 9 of the Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials adopted by the 8th United Nations Congress on Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders in Havana, Cuba 27 August to 7 September 1990 which states: “Law enforcement officials shall not use firearms against persons except in self-defence or defence of others against the imminent threat of death or serious injury, to prevent the perpetration of a particularly serious crime involving grave threat to life, to arrest a person presenting such a danger and resisting their authority, or to prevent his or her escape, and only when less extreme means are insufficient to achieve these objectives. In any event, intentional lethal use of firearms may only be made when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.”

4 – In some instances, the Israeli and the Palestinian security forces have prevented ambulances and medical help from reaching the injured and are even sometimes themselves fired upon. The Israeli security forces even target those who are trying to help evacuate the injured. Bessam Al-Belfelyassi, a Red Crescent ambulance driver who was trying to save the life of Mohammed Al-Doreh was shot in the chest in his ambulance at the Netzarim junction in the Gaza strip and died because of his injuries. On top of all this Israel prevents humanitarian aid such as food, medicine and clothes from reaching the Palestinians. There are ambulances sent from Saudi Arabia, which the Israelis refuse to let into the occupied territories. These kinds of behaviours are a clear violation of the non-military people’s rights and the disregard of the Fourth Geneva Convention and its related protocols.

5 – Other forms of the violation of human rights in the occupied territories are the various racial discrimination behaviours inflicted on the Palestinians. The Zionist authorities, from the founding of the state of Israel (1948) until the end of 2001 in ideology and their Constitution have done all they can with their racist behaviours to force the Palestinians to leave the occupied territories. In other words to fulfil their ideals of the cleansing of the land for the settlers in the so-called “Promised Land”, as it was revealed in the Durban Conference Against Racism in September 2001, in South Africa. The holding of this conference shows the determination of the international community in eradicating all forms of racial discrimination from the planet. The plight of the Palestinian people has been reflected in the text of the final declaration of the conference.

6 – The wave of violence and murder that took place in the occupied territories in 2001 is a clear violation of UN Resolutions 242 and 338, the Fourth Geneva Convention, the United Nations Charter, the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international treaties. In the period of time since the Al-Aqsa Intifada international organizations and NGOs have issued several declarations and resolutions such as: Resolution 1322 of the UN Security Council (7 October 2000), the International Committee of Jurists (4-8 October 2000), Human Rights Watch (4-11 October 2000), the UN Commision on Human Rights (7-13 November 2001), 10th Emergency Session of the UN General Assembly (20 October 2000). They have all been united with one demand, that war and conflict be immediately put to an end, however the flames of war and conflict are still continuing unabated.

7 – As an NGO active in human rights issues, the Organization for Defending Victims of Violence condemns the killings and atrocities committed in the occupied territories, and taking the Palestinians’ rights into consideration, urgently request for an end to the conflict as soon as possible.

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