Palestinian NGOs have issued a written statement to the United Nations Human Rights Council condemning “Israel’s unlawful targeting of civilians, civilian objects, and civilian property” in Gaza.

The NGOs, which include Women Against Violence, The Association for the Defence for the Right of the Internally Displaced in Israel, and The Arab Association for Human Rights, also outline a series of recommendations to bring an end to the on-going attacks on Gaza.

The statement was sent just before the Council met on Wednesday and voted 29-1 for an investigation into possible war crimes in the conflict.


Special Session on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, 23 July 2014

Submitted on 22 July 2014

Gross Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Violations and Suspicions of War Crimes in Gaza

Since 8 July 2014, when Israel launched its air, sea and land military offensive dubbed “Operation Protective Edge”, at least 500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, about 75% of whom the UN humanitarian office (OCHA) report to be civilians, with upwards of 3,500 people injured. The casualties have included entire families, women, children and the elderly, as Israeli air strikes have deliberately targeted homes. An estimated number of 472 homes have been totally destroyed with thousands severely damaged. Mass displacement has escalated across Gaza with upwards of 100,000 displaced, with an estimated 43% of Gaza’s territory declared as a “no-go zone”. Other civilian objects bombed by the Israeli military have included hospitals, an emergency medical building, ambulances, schools, mosques, a facility for the disabled, a café, and a clearly marked media car.

On 20 July 2014, “the deadliest day” so far, particularly grave and horrific events took place in the densely populated Shaja’ia area in eastern Gaza City. This area was subjected to intensive artillery shelling, airstrikes and fierce fighting on the ground. As a result, according to human rights organizations and media reports, upwards of 60 Palestinians including 17 children and 14 women were killed as well as 13 Israeli soldiers, and scores of civilians were injured. There was also widespread and systematic destruction of houses in this area by the Israeli military, thus terrorizing the population. Ambulances and medical teams could not evacuate the wounded and the dead or rescue people trapped under the rubble until a humanitarian pause entered into effect.

We call on the UN Human Rights Council to:

(1) Call for an immediate end to the War, and the targeting of civilian populations by all the parties;

(2) Condemn the deliberate, systematic, and widespread targeting of Palestinian civilians and civilian objects in Gaza, including family homes, medical facilities, mosques, among others, as well as attacks on the water supply that constitute a grave humanitarian danger to the entire population;

(3) Call for the immediate, international protection of Palestinian civilians in Gaza;

(4) Demand that Israel lift its blockade on Gaza, lift restrictions on freedom of movement for Palestinians, and allow the passage of goods necessary for the population, and allow the resumption of economic activity in Gaza;

(5) Call for an immediate end to racial incitement and physical attacks against Palestinian citizens of Israel, the end to brutal and violent treatment by the police against demonstrators, and to respect the right for freedom of expression in Israel.

(6) Establish an independent, international commission of inquiry, with the mandate to identify and investigate all violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law committed within the context of Operation Protective Edge in the Gaza Strip. This commission should set forth specific facts and circumstances of such violations and concrete recommendations with a view of holding individuals responsible for those violations accountable, and ensuring victims’ access to effective remedy;

(7) Follow-up and monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict of 2008-2009.

Signed by:

Adalah — The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel (ECOSOC, Special)

The Arab Association for Human Rights (ECOSOC, Special)

Al Tufula Center

The Association for the Defence for the Right of the Internally Displaced in Israel

Aswat – Palestinian Gay Women

Baladna – Association for Arab Youth

The Galilee Society – The Arab National Society for Health Research & Services

Hamleh: The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media

I’lam Media Center for Arab Palestinians in Israel

Kayan Feminist Organization

Mada al-Carmel – Arab Center for Applied Social Research

MossawaCenter – The Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens in Israel

The Regional Council for the Unrecognized Villages in the Negev (Naqab)

Women Against Violence

Read full statement….