8 july 2020
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Biweekly Highlights
Biweekly Highlights
- An eight-month-old baby boy, who needed a heart surgery at an Israeli hospital, could not exit Gaza and died on 18 June. Since 21 May, the PA has not accepted or transferred applications for exit permits from Gaza to the Israeli authorities, as a response to Israel’s plan to annex parts of the West Bank. Since then, only few patients referred for medical treatment in the West Bank or Israel managed to exit Gaza, with the help of NGOs or international agencies.
- On 23 June, a Palestinian man drove his car into an Israeli Border Police officer at a checkpoint, injuring her, and he was subsequently shot and killed. The Wadi an Nar checkpoint (Jerusalem governorate), where the incident took place, is used by the Israeli authorities to control Palestinian traffic between the southern and northern West Bank. A video recording of the incident suggests it was an intentional attack. Family members of the driver claimed that he may have lost control over the vehicle and that after his shooting he was left bleeding on the ground. So far this year, Israeli forces have killed seven Palestinians during attacks or alleged attacks they carried out against Israelis.
- Israeli forces injured 121 Palestinians in multiple clashes across the West Bank. Seventy-three of those Palestinians were injured in Abu Dis (Jerusalem) during three-day-long clashes that followed the above-mentioned killing. Twenty other Palestinians were injured in the Jordan Valley, in three separate demonstrations against the expected annexation of parts of the West Bank by Israel. Another seven were injured during the weekly demonstrations in Kufur Qaddoum village (Qalqilia). A 15-year-old boy was shot with live ammunition and injured in Deir Abu Mash’al (Ramallah), allegedly after throwing a bottle towards Israeli vehicles. The rest were injured during various incidents in East Jerusalem, the Qalandia and Al Jalazoun refugee camps and Nablus city. Of those injured, 63 were medically treated for tear gas inhalation, 44 were hit by rubber-coated metal bullets, eight were physically assaulted, and six were hit by live ammunition.
- Israeli forces carried out 125 search-and-arrest operations and abducted 156 Palestinian civilians across the West Bank, slightly above the 2020 average so far.
- On 26 June, a Palestinian armed group fired two rockets towards southern Israel, one of which fell short inside Gaza and the other hit an open area in southern Israel. Subsequently, Israeli forces carried out air strikes, reportedly targeting an armed group’s position located in a populated area. While no one was injured in any of the attacks, the targeted position and four nearby homes sustained minor damage.
- On at least 26 occasions, Israeli forces opened fire near Israel’s perimeter fence around Gaza and off the coast, presumably to enforce access restrictions; no injuries were reported. On three other occasions, Israeli forces entered Gaza and carried out land-levelling and excavation operations near the fence, east of Gaza city, Beit Hanoun and Rafah.
- Twenty-one Palestinian-owned structures were demolished or seized for the lack of Israeli-issued building permits; 30 people, including 13 children, were displaced and the livelihoods of more than 90 others were affected. Ten of the structures, of which three were inhabited homes, were demolished in East Jerusalem; four of these structures, including one of the inhabited homes, were demolished by their owners to avoid fees and damage to their belongings. In Area C, 11 structures were demolished or seized in eight communities, including Al Khadr (Bethlehem), where two structures were demolished on the basis of Military Order 1797, providing for the expedited removal of unlicensed structures deemed as “new”. The demolition of homes and sources of livelihoods amid the ongoing pandemic remains of serious concern.
- Ten Palestinians were injured, hundreds of olive trees were set on fire and six vehicles were vandalized by assailants believed to be Israeli settlers. Of all those who sustained injuries, seven were pepper-sprayed by settlers in two separate incidents near Beitillu village (Ramallah) and in the Silwan neighbourhood of East Jerusalem; two, including a 14-year-old girl, were stoned in the Israeli-controlled area of Hebron city (H2) and south of Nablus; and one was physically assaulted while herding sheep in Deir al Qilt (Jericho). Hundreds of olive trees were reportedly set on fire by Israeli settlers in four separate incidents in the villages of Burin, Qaryut (both in Nablus) and Wadi Fukin (Bethlehem). In Burin, the fire extended to nearby lands belonging to Palestinians from Kafr Qalil and Huwara, where more trees caught fire. So far in 2020, at least 4,000 olive and other trees have been damaged in reported settler attacks.
- According to an Israeli NGO, four Israeli-plated vehicles travelling on West Bank roads were damaged when Palestinians threw stones at them; no injuries were reported.
In the summer of 2014, Al Mezan and LPHR worked together to examine egregious acts of horror against civilians in Gaza, trapped in a closed-off territory while under military bombardment run by Israel’s political and military leadership; its emblematic feature being that dozens of entire families were killed and maimed by targeted military attacks against family homes for the duration of the military offensive between 7 July and 26 August.
For six years, Al Mezan and LPHR have worked relentlessly on behalf of victims, survivors and their families to pursue accountability for clearly apparent serious violations of international criminal, humanitarian and human rights law; including engagement at the international level with the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry into the 2014 Gaza Conflict.
Reflecting the empirical evidence, Al Mezan and LPHR have voiced grave concerns about the systemic impunity deeply embedded within Israel’s military investigation process, despite which Al Mezan engages with in good faith to seek legal redress, accountability and justice for victims, survivors and their families.
However, the appalling and clearly foreseeable pattern of impunity repeats itself year after year. No criminal charges, prosecutions, or convictions for clearly apparent serious violations against civilians in Gaza during the 2014 military bombardment. No genuine investigations, no legal accountability, no justice for victims, survivors and their families. Gross injustice and total systemic impunity prevailing. Six years on it is overwhelmingly clear to our organisations that Israel is unwilling to provide genuine investigations for these grave cases.
For six years, the authoritative words of the UN independent Commission of Inquiry into the 2014 Gaza Conflict have remained gravely extant: “The commission is concerned that impunity prevails across the board for violations of international humanitarian and human rights law allegedly committed by Israeli forces, whether it be in the context of active hostilities in Gaza or killings, torture, and ill-treatment in the West Bank.” [bolded for emphasis by Al Mezan and LPHR]
The empirical record is plainly and strikingly clear: Israel is unwilling to hold its political and military leadership to account. The output of the fundamentally flawed investigation system unquestionably activates the mandate of the ICC. It is accordingly and necessarily incumbent on the ICC Prosecutor to meet the hope and imperative of victims, survivors and their families, and bring an end to the devastating cycle of systemic impunity.
-The recurrent serious violations that have egregiously harmed thousands of civilians in Gaza over the years without distinction—men and women, boys and girls, the elderly and people with disabilities—must be met with an effective accountability deterrent.
Against this devastating context, Al Mezan and LPHR strongly welcome the 20 December 2019 announcement by ICC Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, that she is ready to open a criminal investigation into the situation in Palestine. We view it as a seminal step towards achieving legal accountability and justice for the many victims, survivors and their families of alleged serious international crimes perpetrated by Israeli forces and their military and political leadership.
Our organisations did also note the important caveat that the Prosecutor’s significant decision to open an investigation has been made without yet making a crucial determination on the genuineness and scope of Israel’s investigative processes vis-a-vis the 2014 hostilities in Gaza.
On this sixth anniversary, and on behalf of the thousands of victims, survivors and their families, Al Mezan and LPHR wish to make a respectful, solemn and grave appeal to the ICC Prosecutor to make the objectively necessary determination that Israel has been demonstrably unwilling to provide genuine investigations, and accordingly the Office of the Prosecutor will undertake the responsibility, pursuant to the fundamental objectives of the Rome Statute, to investigate the 2014 attacks on Gaza.
Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights (Al Mezan) is a Palestinian non-governmental human rights organization that works for the protection and promotion of Palestinian human rights and the rule of law in Gaza as part of occupied Palestine.
Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights (LPHR) is a lawyer-based charity in the UK that works on projects to protect and promote Palestinian human rights. LPHR’s mission is to use our expertise to meaningfully contribute towards transforming the critical human rights situation impacting Palestinians.
For more on Al Mezan’s and LPHR’s work in this area, please see the following:
For six years, Al Mezan and LPHR have worked relentlessly on behalf of victims, survivors and their families to pursue accountability for clearly apparent serious violations of international criminal, humanitarian and human rights law; including engagement at the international level with the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry into the 2014 Gaza Conflict.
Reflecting the empirical evidence, Al Mezan and LPHR have voiced grave concerns about the systemic impunity deeply embedded within Israel’s military investigation process, despite which Al Mezan engages with in good faith to seek legal redress, accountability and justice for victims, survivors and their families.
However, the appalling and clearly foreseeable pattern of impunity repeats itself year after year. No criminal charges, prosecutions, or convictions for clearly apparent serious violations against civilians in Gaza during the 2014 military bombardment. No genuine investigations, no legal accountability, no justice for victims, survivors and their families. Gross injustice and total systemic impunity prevailing. Six years on it is overwhelmingly clear to our organisations that Israel is unwilling to provide genuine investigations for these grave cases.
For six years, the authoritative words of the UN independent Commission of Inquiry into the 2014 Gaza Conflict have remained gravely extant: “The commission is concerned that impunity prevails across the board for violations of international humanitarian and human rights law allegedly committed by Israeli forces, whether it be in the context of active hostilities in Gaza or killings, torture, and ill-treatment in the West Bank.” [bolded for emphasis by Al Mezan and LPHR]
The empirical record is plainly and strikingly clear: Israel is unwilling to hold its political and military leadership to account. The output of the fundamentally flawed investigation system unquestionably activates the mandate of the ICC. It is accordingly and necessarily incumbent on the ICC Prosecutor to meet the hope and imperative of victims, survivors and their families, and bring an end to the devastating cycle of systemic impunity.
-The recurrent serious violations that have egregiously harmed thousands of civilians in Gaza over the years without distinction—men and women, boys and girls, the elderly and people with disabilities—must be met with an effective accountability deterrent.
Against this devastating context, Al Mezan and LPHR strongly welcome the 20 December 2019 announcement by ICC Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, that she is ready to open a criminal investigation into the situation in Palestine. We view it as a seminal step towards achieving legal accountability and justice for the many victims, survivors and their families of alleged serious international crimes perpetrated by Israeli forces and their military and political leadership.
Our organisations did also note the important caveat that the Prosecutor’s significant decision to open an investigation has been made without yet making a crucial determination on the genuineness and scope of Israel’s investigative processes vis-a-vis the 2014 hostilities in Gaza.
On this sixth anniversary, and on behalf of the thousands of victims, survivors and their families, Al Mezan and LPHR wish to make a respectful, solemn and grave appeal to the ICC Prosecutor to make the objectively necessary determination that Israel has been demonstrably unwilling to provide genuine investigations, and accordingly the Office of the Prosecutor will undertake the responsibility, pursuant to the fundamental objectives of the Rome Statute, to investigate the 2014 attacks on Gaza.
Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights (Al Mezan) is a Palestinian non-governmental human rights organization that works for the protection and promotion of Palestinian human rights and the rule of law in Gaza as part of occupied Palestine.
Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights (LPHR) is a lawyer-based charity in the UK that works on projects to protect and promote Palestinian human rights. LPHR’s mission is to use our expertise to meaningfully contribute towards transforming the critical human rights situation impacting Palestinians.
For more on Al Mezan’s and LPHR’s work in this area, please see the following:
- LPHR and Al Mezan Complaint Submission [pdf] made to the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza Conflict concerning large-scale destruction and damage to family houses in the Gaza Strip, with associated profound loss of life and injury to Palestinian residents, during Israel’s military operation between 7 July 2014 and 26 August 2014 (published September 2014)
- LPHR, Al Mezan and Medical Aid for Palestinians Complaint Submission [pdf] to the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza Conflict concerning destruction and damage to medical infrastructure, and loss of life and injury to civilians and medical personnel, in Gaza, during Israel’s military operation between 7 July 2014 and 26 August 2014 (published February 2015)
- LPHR, Al Mezan and Medical Aid for Palestinians Joint Report: [pdf]
- No More Impunity: Gaza’s Health Sector Under Attack (published June 2015)
- Al Mezan report: [pdf] No Reparations in Israel for Palestinians: How Israel’s Amendment No. 8 Leaves no Room for Recourse (published December 2015)
- LPHR and Al Mezan joint update [pdf] – including survey of families on hope for justice – to its September 2014 report to the UN Commission of Inquiry on large-scale destruction and damage to family houses in the Gaza Strip, with associated profound loss of life and injury to Palestinian residents, during Israel’s military operation between 7 July 2014 and 26 August 2014 (published December 2016)
- Al Mezan and Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel Joint Report: [pdf] Gaza 3 Years On: Impunity over Accountability – Israel’s unwillingness to investigate violations of international law in the Gaza Strip (published August 2017)
- LPHR and Al Mezan Joint Report: [pdf] Justice Denied: Gaza human shield survivors and the systemic failure of Israel’s military investigation system to provide accountability (published September 2018)
- LPHR Report: [pdf] Eleven key points relevant to the complementarity assessment being undertaken by the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on the grave issue of targeted airstrikes against family homes in Gaza (published April 2019)
- LPHR Statement: [pdf] A seminal step towards legal accountability and justice for victims, survivors and their families: ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda’s decision that she is ready to open an investigation into the situation in Palestine (published December 2019)
- LPHR, Al Mezan and Medical Aid for Palestinians Joint Report: [pdf] Chronic Impunity: Gaza’s Health Sector Under Repeated Attack (published March 2020)
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns the arrest of a civilian from the Gaza Strip by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) stationed at Beit Hanoun “Erez” Crossing.
The civilian was traveling to Tel HaShomer Hospital as he is scheduled for a bone marrow donation for his ill brother, who is currently at the hospital.
According to PCHR’s investigations, on Monday, 06 July 2020, Israeli authorities arrested ‘Abdullah Shaker Mohammed al-Daghmah (38) from Rafah, while traveling to Tel HaShomer Hospital for a bone marrow donation for his brother Hani Shaker al-Daghmah (44). Hani suffers from Leukemia and has been in the hospital for a long period and his health condition is extremely critical.
Al-Daghma’s family told PCHR’s fieldworker that after all family members did the necessary medical examinations, Abdullah’s results were the only ones that matched his brother.
Accordingly, necessary procedures were conducted for his travel along with his sister. When they arrived at the Israeli side at Erez Crossing, ‘Abdullah was arrested while his sister was sent back to the Gaza Strip and quarantined according to the measures applied in the Gaza Strip.
It should be noted that PCHR’s lawyer, in his capacity as a legal representative of al-Daghmah, follows up with the Israeli authorities to determine ‘Abdullah’s place of detention and to visit him as soon as possible.
PCHR is gravely concerned over the continued use of Erez Crossing as a trap to arrest civilians leaving the Gaza Strip for treatment and other humanitarians reasons, which further aggravates the implications of the illegal closure imposed on the Gaza Strip and the suffering of its civilian population, especially patients whose treatment is not available at Gaza hospitals.
It is worth noting that the arrest of civilians, including patients or companions, is not a precedent, as IOF use Beit Hanoun crossing, the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip population to the West Bank and Israel, to blackmail Palestinian patients and individuals in exchange of exit permits.
In light of the above, PCHR:
For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893
Gaza- Jamal ‘Abdel Nasser “al-Thalathini” Street – Al-Roya Building- Floor 12, El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
The civilian was traveling to Tel HaShomer Hospital as he is scheduled for a bone marrow donation for his ill brother, who is currently at the hospital.
According to PCHR’s investigations, on Monday, 06 July 2020, Israeli authorities arrested ‘Abdullah Shaker Mohammed al-Daghmah (38) from Rafah, while traveling to Tel HaShomer Hospital for a bone marrow donation for his brother Hani Shaker al-Daghmah (44). Hani suffers from Leukemia and has been in the hospital for a long period and his health condition is extremely critical.
Al-Daghma’s family told PCHR’s fieldworker that after all family members did the necessary medical examinations, Abdullah’s results were the only ones that matched his brother.
Accordingly, necessary procedures were conducted for his travel along with his sister. When they arrived at the Israeli side at Erez Crossing, ‘Abdullah was arrested while his sister was sent back to the Gaza Strip and quarantined according to the measures applied in the Gaza Strip.
It should be noted that PCHR’s lawyer, in his capacity as a legal representative of al-Daghmah, follows up with the Israeli authorities to determine ‘Abdullah’s place of detention and to visit him as soon as possible.
PCHR is gravely concerned over the continued use of Erez Crossing as a trap to arrest civilians leaving the Gaza Strip for treatment and other humanitarians reasons, which further aggravates the implications of the illegal closure imposed on the Gaza Strip and the suffering of its civilian population, especially patients whose treatment is not available at Gaza hospitals.
It is worth noting that the arrest of civilians, including patients or companions, is not a precedent, as IOF use Beit Hanoun crossing, the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip population to the West Bank and Israel, to blackmail Palestinian patients and individuals in exchange of exit permits.
In light of the above, PCHR:
- Strongly condemns arresting Palestinian patients or their companies by IOF while traveling for medical treatment and demands their immediate release and guarantees that their lives will not be at risk;
- Calls upon the international community, including the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to fulfill their
obligations and responsibilities by taking immediate action to put an end to violations of the international humanitarian law perpetrated by IOF against Palestinian civilians; - Stresses the seriousness of targeting and blackmailing patients and taking advantage of their need to receive medical treatment at hospitals in Israel or the West Bank; and
- Demands guarantees of the freedom of movement and travel for Palestinian civilians from and to the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893
Gaza- Jamal ‘Abdel Nasser “al-Thalathini” Street – Al-Roya Building- Floor 12, El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
2 july 2020
Statement By Amnesty International: The Israeli authorities must immediately abandon plans to further “annex” territory in the occupied West Bank which breach international laws and exacerbate decades of systematic human rights violations against Palestinians there, Amnesty International said on the day the Israeli cabinet is due to begin its deliberations on the plans.
Amnesty International is also calling on the international community to take firm action against the “annexation” proposals and illegal Israeli settlements in occupied territory.
International law is crystal clear on this matter – annexation is unlawful. Israel’s continued pursuit of this policy further illustrates its cynical disregard for international law.
Saleh Higazi“International law is crystal clear on this matter – annexation is unlawful. Israel’s continued pursuit of this policy further illustrates its cynical disregard for international law. Such policies do not change the legal status of the territory under international law and its inhabitants as occupied nor remove Israel’s responsibilities as the occupying power – rather it points to the ‘law of the jungle’ which should not have a place in our world today,” said Saleh Higazi, deputy regional director for Amnesty Middle East and North Africa
“Members of the international community must enforce international law and restate that “annexation” of any part of the occupied West Bank is null and void. They must also work to immediately stop the construction or expansion of illegal Israeli settlements and related infrastructure in the Occupied Palestinian Territories as a first step towards removing Israeli civilians living in such settlements.”
Null “annexation”
Under a deal to form a coalition government in April, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and political rival Benny Gantz agreed that a cabinet and parliament deliberations on the domestic process of “annexing” parts of the occupied West Bank, that include Israeli settlements and the area of the Jordan Valley, could begin as of 1 July.
Members of the international community must enforce international law and restate that “annexation” of any part of the occupied West Bank is null and void
Saleh HigaziAnnexation is the claim to acquire territory by force and is a flagrant violation of international law. Such a step by Israel would violate the UN Charter, jus cogens norms of international law, and obligations under international humanitarian law. The prohibition on the acquisition of territory by force is enshrined as a fundamental principle in Article 2(4) of the UN Charter.
Under domestic Israeli law, moves towards further “annexation” of Palestinian territory would mean a continuation of Israeli settlement expansion. It would also further entrench policies of institutionalized discrimination and mass human rights violations that Palestinians face in the OPT resulting from the occupation.
According to reports, the Israeli proposal could include as much as 33% of the total area of West Bank.
Recently, dozens of UN experts have voiced concerns that the proposed annexation plan would create a “21st century apartheid”.
Illegal settlements
Israel’s policy of settling its civilians in occupied Palestinian territory and displacing the local Palestinian population continues to contravene fundamental rules of international humanitarian law. Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states: “The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.” It also prohibits the “individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as deportations of protected persons from occupied territory”.
Transferring the occupying power’s civilians into the occupied territory is a war crime. Furthermore, the settlements and associated infrastructure are not temporary, do not benefit Palestinians and do not serve the legitimate security needs of the occupying power. Settlements entirely depend on the large-scale appropriation and/or destruction of Palestinian private and public property which are not militarily necessary.
“Settlements are created with the sole purpose of permanently establishing Jewish Israelis on occupied land; this is a war crime under international law and “annexation” has no bearing on this legal determination.” Said Saleh Higazi
Background:
On 20 April, following Israel’s third elections in 10 months, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his political rival Benny Gantz formed a coalition government under a unity deal. The deal included an agreement which would allow Israel’s government to start the domestic process of “annexing” parts of the occupied West Bank that include Israeli settlements and the area of the Jordan Valley.
Israel’s “annexation” plans follow the announcement by US President Donald Trump’s so-called “deal of the century” in January 2020 which proposed areas of the occupied West Bank be annexed by Israel.
Amnesty International has made it clear that the Trump Administration’s plan would serve only to worsen human rights violations and enshrine the entrenched impunity that has fueled decades of war crimes, crimes against humanity and other grave violations.
The international community should also reject the so-called “deal of the century”, and any other proposal seeking to undermine the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the right of return of Palestinian refugees.
Amnesty also calls on governments to offer their full political and practical support to the International Criminal Court (ICC) as it decides on its jurisdiction over the “situation in Palestine”.
Amnesty International is also calling on the international community to take firm action against the “annexation” proposals and illegal Israeli settlements in occupied territory.
International law is crystal clear on this matter – annexation is unlawful. Israel’s continued pursuit of this policy further illustrates its cynical disregard for international law.
Saleh Higazi“International law is crystal clear on this matter – annexation is unlawful. Israel’s continued pursuit of this policy further illustrates its cynical disregard for international law. Such policies do not change the legal status of the territory under international law and its inhabitants as occupied nor remove Israel’s responsibilities as the occupying power – rather it points to the ‘law of the jungle’ which should not have a place in our world today,” said Saleh Higazi, deputy regional director for Amnesty Middle East and North Africa
“Members of the international community must enforce international law and restate that “annexation” of any part of the occupied West Bank is null and void. They must also work to immediately stop the construction or expansion of illegal Israeli settlements and related infrastructure in the Occupied Palestinian Territories as a first step towards removing Israeli civilians living in such settlements.”
Null “annexation”
Under a deal to form a coalition government in April, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and political rival Benny Gantz agreed that a cabinet and parliament deliberations on the domestic process of “annexing” parts of the occupied West Bank, that include Israeli settlements and the area of the Jordan Valley, could begin as of 1 July.
Members of the international community must enforce international law and restate that “annexation” of any part of the occupied West Bank is null and void
Saleh HigaziAnnexation is the claim to acquire territory by force and is a flagrant violation of international law. Such a step by Israel would violate the UN Charter, jus cogens norms of international law, and obligations under international humanitarian law. The prohibition on the acquisition of territory by force is enshrined as a fundamental principle in Article 2(4) of the UN Charter.
Under domestic Israeli law, moves towards further “annexation” of Palestinian territory would mean a continuation of Israeli settlement expansion. It would also further entrench policies of institutionalized discrimination and mass human rights violations that Palestinians face in the OPT resulting from the occupation.
According to reports, the Israeli proposal could include as much as 33% of the total area of West Bank.
Recently, dozens of UN experts have voiced concerns that the proposed annexation plan would create a “21st century apartheid”.
Illegal settlements
Israel’s policy of settling its civilians in occupied Palestinian territory and displacing the local Palestinian population continues to contravene fundamental rules of international humanitarian law. Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states: “The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.” It also prohibits the “individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as deportations of protected persons from occupied territory”.
Transferring the occupying power’s civilians into the occupied territory is a war crime. Furthermore, the settlements and associated infrastructure are not temporary, do not benefit Palestinians and do not serve the legitimate security needs of the occupying power. Settlements entirely depend on the large-scale appropriation and/or destruction of Palestinian private and public property which are not militarily necessary.
“Settlements are created with the sole purpose of permanently establishing Jewish Israelis on occupied land; this is a war crime under international law and “annexation” has no bearing on this legal determination.” Said Saleh Higazi
Background:
On 20 April, following Israel’s third elections in 10 months, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his political rival Benny Gantz formed a coalition government under a unity deal. The deal included an agreement which would allow Israel’s government to start the domestic process of “annexing” parts of the occupied West Bank that include Israeli settlements and the area of the Jordan Valley.
Israel’s “annexation” plans follow the announcement by US President Donald Trump’s so-called “deal of the century” in January 2020 which proposed areas of the occupied West Bank be annexed by Israel.
Amnesty International has made it clear that the Trump Administration’s plan would serve only to worsen human rights violations and enshrine the entrenched impunity that has fueled decades of war crimes, crimes against humanity and other grave violations.
The international community should also reject the so-called “deal of the century”, and any other proposal seeking to undermine the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the right of return of Palestinian refugees.
Amnesty also calls on governments to offer their full political and practical support to the International Criminal Court (ICC) as it decides on its jurisdiction over the “situation in Palestine”.
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