 |
Add to My Group
5
4
3
View Ratings |
Rate It
Human Rights Situation in Occupied Palestine
By Stephen Lendman (about the author) Page 1 of 7 page(s)
For OpEdNews: Stephen Lendman - Writer
On March 15, 2006, the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly 170 to 4 (with only the US, Israel, the Marshall Islands and Palau against) "to establish the Human Rights Council (HRC), based in Geneva, in replacement of the Commission on Human Rights, as a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly....responsible for promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind and in a fair and equal manner."
HRC "is an inter-governmental body within the UN system made up of 47 states responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe."
At its tenth session this year, HRC prepared a report titled: "Human Rights Situation in Palestine and other Occupied Arab Territories" and delivered it on March 20. It deals mainly with grave human rights violations in Occupied Palestine, especially due to Operation Cast Lead against Gaza.
It states that the "Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly the Gaza Strip, has been affected by protracted conflict and occupation policies for decades." However, Operation Cast Lead caused "a dramatic deterioration of the living conditions of (a) civilian population" already reeling under an oppressive "20-month-long" siege. An estimated 80% of Gazans, especially women and children, were already dependent on humanitarian aid prior to the conflict's onset.
When it ended, an estimated 91% needed help as it gravely exacerbated current conditions for all 1.5 million Gazans with regard to food, health, housing, education, transportation, electricity and gas, agriculture, and virtually all other aspects of life. Even after the January 18 ceasefire, attacks continued, the siege remained, and free movement restrictions hampered recovery efforts and a return to normalcy. Gazans still suffer gravely in the aftermath of a three-week conflict worsening an already catastrophic humanitarian situation compounded by continued hostilities and a complete blockade - in gross violation of international law.
The Territory's complete dependence on external aid, by whatever means and in whatever amounts obtainable, makes Gazans vulnerable to political manipulation and a deepening crisis of poverty and desperation.
International Humanitarian Law
This writer discusses it often, especially the binding standards under Fourth Geneva relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. Also the Hague Regulations, obligations under Geneva's Common Article 3, and principles of distinction and proportionality:
-- distinction between combatants and military targets v. civilians and non-military ones; attacking latter ones are war crimes except when civilians take direct part in hostilities; and
-- proportionality prohibitions against disproportionate, indiscriminate force likely to cause damage to or loss of lives and objects.
In addition, parties to a conflict must make take all precautions to avoid and minimize incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians, and damage to non-military sites. To alert civilians, "effective advance warning" must also be given, under Fourth Geneva; "neutralized zones" must be available to protect them as much as possible; and using human shields is strictly prohibited.
Other Fourth Geneva provisions prohibit:
-- collective punishment "for an offence he or she has not personally committed;"
-- the destruction of private or public property unrelated to military operations;
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
 Contact Author |
Contact Editor |
 View Authors' Articles |
by Human Rights Watch
$20.00
Lowest New Price $19.70
Number of pages: 440
Publisher: Human Rights Watch
by Steven R. Ratner
$50.00
Lowest New Price $42.54
Number of pages: 480
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
by Rosanna L. Langer
$36.95
Lowest New Price $30.50
Number of pages: 191
Publisher: University of Washington Press
by Menno T. Kamminga
$69.95
Lowest New Price $59.97
Number of pages: 240
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press
| 3 comments |
Want to post your own comment on this Article? 
|
||||
|
||||||||||||||
News (0) 
Touching (1) 
Funny (0) 
Supported (0) 
Interesting (1) 
Inspiring (0) Tell a Friend:
|
Copyright © 2002-2009, OpEdNews |
