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"While a truce has allegedly been reached (this time), it should be borne in mind that, given the impunity enjoyed by Israel in the face of violations committed against civilians, there is no deterrent and as such no guarantee that any such truce will be honoured.""The lack of implementation of the recommendations of the UN Fact-Finding Mission Report on the Gaza Conflict has resulted in the de facto sanctioning of Israel's (continued) disproportionate use of force in (Gaza) by the international community."
"Palestinian victims of "Operation Cast Lead', who have yet to receive redress, fear that there is nothing to prevent the crimes of "Cast Lead' from being committed again."
Whether large or smaller scale, Israeli aggression constitutes crimes of war and against humanity. They continue unabated. Since 1967, thousands of Palestinians died, countless others injured. Children lose parents. Wives lose husbands, husbands their spouses. Friends and family members die. Children are traumatized. Many are permanently scared.
Obligations Under International Law
"High Contracting Parties" legitimate slaughter by not acting resolutely against it. Fourth Geneva obligates them. Failure to act makes them culpable. Common Article 1 to the four Geneva Conventions states:
"The High Contracting Parties undertake to respect and to ensure respect for the present Convention in all circumstances."Under Article 1(4) of the Additional Protocol I, protection must be guaranteed for peoples "fighting against colonial domination and alien occupation and against racist regimes in the exercise of their right of self-determination, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations."
International law requires respect and ensuring respect for humanitarian principles. As such, it constitutes a universal obligation for all High Contracting Parties, free from political considerations.
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