Al-Mezan Condemns Israel’s Escalation of Attacks and Calls on the International Community to Intervene

Israeli forces carried out limited incursions, airstrikes, shelling and assaulted fishermen in a new wave of attacks against the population in the Gaza Strip. The escalation began on Monday, 4 May 2016, with limited incursions into Palestinian lands adjacent to the barrier in the eastern areas of Gaza City and Rafah districts. Military bulldozers were used to raze the land. The Israeli air force proceeded to carry out a number of airstrikes on Palestinian security sites, industrial workshops, and open lands. The Israeli artillery shelled several areas in the eastern part of Gaza Strip, resulting in death of a woman and injury to others. Israeli navy continued to pursue and detain fishermen at work. The wave of attacks resembles the escalation that occurred prior to the Operation Protective Edge in 2014.

According to field investigations by Al Mezan Center for Human Rights (Al Mezan), between 1 May 2016 and the day of writing, Israeli military carried out seven limited incursions, 26 airstrikes/shelling attacks, and eight incidents of shooting. The attacks resulted in one death of woman and injury of 11 Palestinians, including four children. The Israeli military arrested three fishermen and confiscated one fishing boat.

Al Mezan strongly condemns the recent escalation of Israeli attacks and calls on the international community to intervene, and put an end to the almost-daily violations. Al Mezan warns of an unprecedented humanitarian cost should Israel decide to launch a new military operation in the Gaza Strip, where people have been living under a protracted and worsening humanitarian crisis, which is a result of the stifling blockade and the failure of the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism.

In light of the ongoing violations by Israeli authorities, combined with a frantic incitement campaign by Israeli politicians, Al Mezan is concerned that the attacks will escalate further, particularly against Palestinian civilians, who have always paid the price for Israel’s partisan gains.

Accordingly, Al Mezan calls on the international community to promptly intervene and protect civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), to take necessary measures and obligate Israel to fulfill its commitments under International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights law, and to hold Israel accountable for its violations of the rules and obligations of International Law. Al Mezan reaffirms that the continuation of impunity encourages Israel to commit further international crimes.

END