Today 7 July 2015 marks the first anniversary of the Israeli offensive against Gaza; codenamed by Israel “Operation Protective Edge” (OPE). This offensive, like the preceding ones, was characterized by brutal armed attacks that failed to observe basic international law rules, resulting with systematic serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law (IHL), amounting and war crimes. The Israeli attacks and practices, particularly the closure/blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, and lack of recourse to justice represented on-going persecution on Gaza population.

The failure of the international community to uphold its moral and legal obligations towards the victims and towards the respect of the IHL; particularly articles 1 and 146 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, have increased agony, frustration and disappointment among the victims.

The summer 2014 witnessed Israeli disregard to its obligations under IHL in its dealing with civilians. The Israeli forces turned civilians into objects for its military acts and attacks. The Israeli forces killed and wounded thousands of civilians and most of them are children and women who were inside their homes. The Israeli forces also attacked houses and other civilian facilities.

According to the documentation by Al Mezan and partner human rights organizations, the Israeli forces killed 2,217 people including 556 children and 293 women. The number of children injured and documented is 2,647 and the number of women injured is 1,442. During the course of OPE, the Israeli forces destroyed 31,974 houses and tall buildings; many of which hold multiple housing units. At least 8,377 of those were totally destroyed, including 1,717 residential buildings. The number of internally displaced people due to the total destruction of the documented houses is 60,612 people; including 30,853 children and 16,522 women.[1] The documented cases do not include tens of thousands of houses and facilities that sustained minor damages.

The Israeli forces forced 520,000 people from the Gaza Strip - most of them children and women - to escape their homes without providing safe places and shelters to them. The Israeli random attacks against shelters, medical crews and facilities increased fear and horror among civilians.

Al Mezan Center for Human Rights reiterates its strong condemnation of war crimes committed by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip during a third major military operation in six years. Al Mezan also condemns the continued silence on the parts of the international community, and its failure to uphold its obligations; especially the immediate and unconditional lifting of the closure/blockade which international community agrees amounting to unlawful collective punishment. International community must insist on the full lifting of the closure policy to enable the rebuilding of Gaza. Such damage to civilian life and property must not be allowed to recur, which makes prosecuting those who stand behind it a crucial necessity.

Al Mezan emphasizes the importance of continuous efforts to achieve justice in this part of the world; including the efforts made by the Human Rights Council's Commission of Inquiry and the Secretary General's appointed board of Inquiry that investigated attacks on UN facilities. It is essential that those who are responsible for the crimes be brought to justice and victims granted reparation and redress.

Al Mezan asserts that justice is the way to real peace. Attempts by the international community to force separating peace from justice have resulted with disastrous outcomes and can only bring about an illusion of peace.

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[1] The number of internally displaced people is only limited to the number of people whose houses were totally destroyed. The number does not include those whose houses sustained major damages and not suitable for living.