Over 8500 Palestinians injured and 47 killed[1] by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) since 30th March in which hundreds of thousands of Palestinians took a part in series of demonstrations in the peaceful “Great March of Return” set to continue until 15 May. Participants are protesting their forced evictions and displacement since 1948 demanding the right of return that stipulated in the UN Resolution 194, as well as calling for an end to the 11-year blockade on Gaza. Among those killed were five children and two journalists, who were wearing clearly visible insignia identifying him as a member of the press. Health personnel have been targeted by the IOF as well; 163 of the paramedics and the civil defence were injured with live bullets and gas suffocation.
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are living under 11-year continuous blockade resulting in dire socioeconomic and sever humanitarian conditions, encompassing shortages in basic needs. More than half the population in the Gaza Strip is poor (53%), while extreme poverty in the Gaza Strip reached 33.8%, and there is an unprecedented increase in the unemployment rate that reached 46.6% and exceeded 67% among youth (20-29 age group)[2]. This harsh situation requires an urgent intervention from the international community to protect human rights in the Gaza strip.
The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is dramatically deteriorating. Hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties and further escalations is expected during the coming weeks devastating the already weak health sector due to chronic shortages of medicines, medical disposables which impede the ability of health personnel to effectively respond to the immediate needs of casualties. Furthermore, wounded peaceful marchers are prevented to access medical treatment abroad, and more than the half of medical referrals is denied to cross Erez checkpoint and receive required health treatment.
The freedoms of association, assembly, and expression are all fundamental rights under international human rights law, and these rights are to be given broad protection. The use of excessive firearms, including live ammunition against peaceful unarmed Palestinian protesters, journalists, and health personnel violates the principles of international law and could constitute crimes under the Rome Statute.
ANND and PNGO call international community to act in solidarity and to ensure collective efforts:
- for an immediate end to the 11-years blockade on Gaza and to hold the Israeli occupation accountable for the violations committed against Palestinian civilians, especially attacks committed against the civil demonstrators, journalists and health personnel in the peaceful March of Return. The international community cannot continue to ignore this collective punishment of the people of Gaza which is prohibited under international law, and there must be international accountability for such actions.
- to provide international protection to the Palestinian people and assist the occupied Palestinian people in obtaining their freedom, independence and the right to self-determination, demand access to their rights including freedom of assembly. Israel occupation must respect rights of Palestinians in living a dignity life and stop violations to their basic human rights.
[1] Palestinian Ministry of Health
[2] Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.
