Statements and Positions
ICHR condemns the Israeli continued military attacks and war crimes against civilians in the Gaza Strip especially the killing of four children on the beach yesterday

Date: 17th of July 2014 (No. 6/2014)

The Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) strongly condemns the continuous Israeli occupation’s ferocious aggression on the Palestinian civilians especially children in the Gaza Strip in flagrant violation of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law; these violations consist in war crimes against humanity.

The Israeli excessive use of force against Palestinian civilians and children resulted in the death of 223 civilians among them 48 children and 27 women. In addition, 1670 civilians were wounded among them 424 children and 271 women. ICHR reaffirms that these Israeli violations are war crimes against Palestinian civilians and children in the Gaza Strip.

ICHR also strongly condemns  the killing of four children on Wednesday, 16 July 2014, while they were playing on Gaza beach. These children are A’ahed  A’atef Bakr (10 years old), Zakariya A’ahed Bakr (10 years old), Mohammad Ramez Bakr (11 years old), Ismael Mohammad Bakr (9 years old). These violent attacks are not limited to this deplorable incident only but also at least 462 children were seriously wounded and thousands were traumatized with severe psychological conditions since the beginning of the military aggression “Protective Edge”, where Israeli Occupation Forces randomly and indiscriminately targeted Palestinian civilians and innocent children. More dangerously, are the long-term impact of such aggression and trauma on Palestinian children’s behavior and mental health. This is also combined with the drastic economic and living conditions in the Gaza Strip due to the  continued severe military siege imposed on Gaza, further exacerbating the humanitarian situation there.

The Fourth Geneva Convention emphasizes the need to protect children and respect their right to life under all conditions including war times prohibiting collective punishment and retaliation. Article (77) of the First Additional Protocol insists on all parties to guarantee protection, shelter and all means of support to children.

ICHR calls upon:

  • The State of Palestine to immediately intervene with the international community in order to ensure that the latest UN Security Council  Declaration on the OPT is being transformed into a more legally binding document enforcing Israel to immediately stop its military aggression against the Gaza Strip.
  • The international community to act immediately to end the Israeli war crimes and siege on Gaza and provide protection to civilians especially children.
  • The High Contracting Parties of the Four Geneva Conventions to abide with their moral and legal obligations and force Israel to respect the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
  • The President of the State of Palestine to sign and ratify the Rome Statue of  the International Criminal Court in order to pursue and prosecute Israeli government officials who have committed and/or ordered the commission of war crimes against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.   Such a step will contribute to efforts towards bringing an end to the prevailing culture of impunity; thereby guaranteeing justice and equality to Palestinian victims of grave breaches and serious violations of human rights.