Palestinian Independent Committee for Human Rights Press Release Regarding War Crimes and Anti-humanity Crimes

 
October 23, 2000
 
The number of civilian casualties fallen in the last four weeks of Alaqsa Intifada increased considerably. There are about 115 martyrs and 5000 injuries, tens of which are serious. A part of the Palestinian people's suffering during this Intifada, the Palestinian territories are under a restricted siege which has so far inflicted serious damages to the Palestinian economy estimated, according the UN Special Coordinator in the Palestinian territories, at 180 million dollar.
 
Furthermore, the Israeli occupation forces increased, in the last few days, their use of excessive power against Palestinian civilians. Such excessive power included new means such as, rockets, bombs, machine guns, helicopters and tanks. The Israelis also blew up Palestinian security outposts and densely populated areas. These acts increased the number of martyrs and wounded among Palestinian civilians. They also inflicted damages to establishments and private properties.
 
Other evidences of the Israeli use of excessive power are the noticeable increase of Jewish settlers', backed by special Israeli military units, attacks inside Palestinian cities, towns and villages.
 
All of the above mentioned practices contradict all international conventions regarding the protection of civilians. They also contradict all international efforts exerted in Paris or Sharm Alshiek, so as to put an end to the bloodshed.
 
The Human Rights Committee affiliated with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, during an emergency session in 17/10/2000 adopted the following position: " the systematic serious wide-range violations of Human Rights being committed by the Israeli occupation forces, particularly, the massive killing policy and the collective punishment policy; houses demolition and closing the Palestinian territories are considered as war crimes, flagrant violation of the International law and anti-humanity crimes. The committee also asserted that the Israeli occupation willful killing of Palestinian civilians and children is a flagrant and serious violation of Palestinians' right to live, as well as an anti-humanity war. It is worth mentioning that that these violations are not confined to the above mentioned forms; they include torture, deportation, compulsory transfer of citizens, apartheid and blowing up cities, villages, houses and isolated buildings.
 
The Palestinian Independent Committee for Human Rights condemns the ongoing Israeli serious violations of Palestinian civilian rights. On the way of implementing the resolution, concerning the pursuit of Israeli war criminals, taken by Arab countries in their emergency summit held in Cairo on the 23 and 24 of October 2000, the PICHR has submitted the following recommendations to the Palestinian National Authority:
 
To continually demand the international community to interfere immediately to stop further bloodshed of Palestinian civilians and provide them and their property with safety. As well as punishing the Israeli officials responsible for the serious violations towards Palestinians.
To immediately take necessary measures so as to prepare files concerning those violations, which are viewed by the UN Human Rights Committee as war crimes against humanity. These measures should include the identification of those Israelis who are involved in committing or ordering those crimes. They also should include the identification of the mechanisms to legally pursue them in cooperation with Arab and International concerned bodies.
 
To immediately form a specialized committee of experts to be in charge of preparing cases of the Israelis accused of committing war crimes and anti-humanity crimes, so as to pursue them and try them in Arab states first, then in other states in case international courts are formed to try war criminals.