Israeli military attack on Palestinians in Gaza – Human Rights Council 9th special session – NGO statement (International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development)

Written statement* submitted by the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID), 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.

[7 January 2009]

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

INFID’s statement on Israeli military attack on Palestinians in Gaza: Israel commits the crime of genocide!!

More than 350 Palestinians died and 1,550 people injured by the recent Israeli military strikes on Gaza Strip since Saturday, 27 December 2008. Civilians, particularly helpless women and innocent children were the largest number among the victims during the bloodshed. Israel’s military attacks were intentionally targeted at destroying the public service facilities and civilian settlements.

The bombardment launched by Israel only two days after Christmas and four days before the Islamic New Year, was a brutal act of genocide that puts the world at shame. The offense on Gaza Strip, at the time when nations worldwide only recently commemorated 60 years of the signing of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide on 9 December 2008, is an irony against the humanity as well as world order, security and peace.

The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, also known as the Genocide Convention refers to Resolution 260 (III) of the UN General Assembly held in New York on 9 December 1948 and entered into force since 12 January 1951, defines genocide as: any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such as: (a) killing members of the group; (b) causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d) imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group, and (e) forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.  

Israel’s military action against the Palestinian people in Gaza fits the definition of genocide stipulated in the Genocide Convention. Official statements declared by Israeli’s leaders on the offence against the Palestinians are a direct and public incitement to commit Genocide.

In view of the act of genocide committed by the Israelis and in efforts to prevent the extinction of a nation from the face of the earth, INFID hereby expresses its utmost concern:

1. INFID is concerned and grieved over the plight of all victims, for the people who have died, for those wounded and those forced to endure other forms of sufferings as the result of Israel’s military assault.

2. INFID condemns the act of genocide committed by Israel.

3. All nations, leaders of the world as well as international and regional bodies bear the obligation to prevent and to stop any act of genocide and to demand for the punishment of persons committing genocide.

4. All acts committed by a group, nation or country leaders who allow and attempt to obstruct efforts aimed at preventing or bringing an end to acts of genocide are contributing to the genocide that further perpetuates such acts of crime. This is also part of the crime of genocide and must be prosecuted according to international laws.

5. INFID acknowledges the stance taken by the Indonesian government which has immediately pronounced its condemnation and opposition to Israel’s attack on Gaza, urging for the Israeli government to end the assault, demanding that UN initiate an emergency assembly and the dispatching of humanitarian relief to victims.

6. INFID considers that the Indonesian government has the strategic position and influence to push for an end to the genocide, among others by mobilizing regional powers such as ASEAN and imposing sanctions through the postponement or cancellation of plans for economic, political, defense and cultural cooperation with countries that support or permit acts of genocide committed by Israel toward the Palestinian people.

This statement is delivered as an expression of INFID’s unswerving commitment to promote justice, peace and equality among the nations of the world.  

Jakarta, 7 January 2009

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