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Writer's pictureManushya Foundation
Jul 12, 2021

5 Actions to End Israeli Oppression of Palestinian People!





Manushya Foundation has endorsed the FIDH Members Declaration on Palestine as we denounce the possible war crime, the illegal occupation, the apartheid, and the ethnic-cleansing against the Palestinians.


Israel’s discrimination and oppression against Palestine had lasted more than half a century. For over 50 years, Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip has resulted in systematic human rights violations against Palestinians living there. In Sheikh Jarrah, Palestinian residents have been fighting against attempts by Israeli Jewish settler organizations to take over their homes for more than 15 years. Recently, seven families made up of more than 150 adults and children, were expelled from their own homes.

Similar story was also happening in Ein AI-Lozeh, in Silwan neighborhood, in occupied East Jerusalem, where the Israeli Occupation's municipality gave notices to 82 Palestinian families out of 182 under the threat of demolition due to claims of missing building permits. By the end of June, residents of Al-Bustan, also in Silwan, were having their homes starting to be demolished by the Israeli authorities. 13 people were at least injured by the police while they protested against the unfair demolition.


The oppression towards Palestine was massively escalated during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan this year. On May 10th, 2021, Israeli security forces attacked the Muslim holy site Al-Aqsa, turned a holy site into a battleground. At least 305 Palestinians were injured. The Palestinian militant group Hamas fired rockets at Israel on the same day, which Israel responded to with deadly air strikes! Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have killed more than 230 Palestinians so far, including at least 62 children and 34 women, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza.


The international community responded differently to the crisis. The US disappointed the world by expressing unequivocal support for Israel and its “legitimate right to defend itself” from Hamas rocket attacks; Ireland became the first EU government to use the phrase "de facto annexation" condemning Israel illegally occupying Palestine’s territory. We need more leading voices to support and bring justice to the Palestinian People!

In order to end the cycles of violence and impunity and protect the Palestinian people, We call on the international community to take five immediate, effective, and concrete steps:


  1. Call on States to declare an embargo on the direct and indirect supply, sale or transfer of all arms and munitions to the belligerent parties;

  2. Publicly and actively support accountability efforts, including the ongoing investigation by the ICC into international crimes committed in Palestine (including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank);

  3. Call for the establishment of an independent investigation into violations of international humanitarian and human rights law be it in Palestine (including in Gaza and the West Bank) or in Israel;

  4. Take targeted sanctions against those responsible for human rights violations and serious breaches of international humanitarian law, encouraging the international community to take a firm stand in this regard; and

  5. Urge Israel to comply with its legal obligation to lift the blockade of Gaza and to end its discriminatory laws and practices as well as its settlement activities in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.




 

References:

  1. Amnesty International, Israel and occupied Palestinian territories 2020. Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/middle-east-and-north-africa/israel-and-occupied-palestinian-territories/report-israel-and-occupied-palestinian-territories/

  2. Amnesty International, ISRAEL'S OCCUPATION: 50 YEARS OF DISPOSSESSION. Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2017/06/israel-occupation-50-years-of-dispossession/

  3. Human Rights Watch, How the UN Can Help End Israeli Apartheid and Persecution. May 19, 2021. Available at: https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/05/19/how-un-can-help-end-israeli-apartheid-and-persecution

  4. The Guardian, UN to launch inquiry into ‘systematic discrimination in Israel and Palestine. May 27, 2021. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/27/un-rights-body-debates-systematic-discrimination-in-israel-and-palestine

  5. Aljazeera, Why is the US unequivocal in its support for Israel? May 18, 2021. Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/18/short-answer-why-is-the-united-states-so-pro-israel

  6. Middle East Eye, Al-Aqsa under attack: How Israel turned holy site into a battleground. May 12, 2021. Available at: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-palestine-aqsa-attacks-how-violence-unfolded

  7. UNICEF, UNICEF State of Palestine Humanitarian Situation Report No. 2 (Gaza Escalation). May 18, 2021. Available at: https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/unicef-state-palestine-humanitarian-situation-report-no-2-gaza

  8. New Frame, Sheikh Jarrah Palestinians at mercy of Israeli court. May 13, 2021. Available at: https://www.newframe.com/sheikh-jarrah-palestinians-at-mercy-of-israeli-court/

  9. NRC, Israeli authorities demolish shop in Silwan, 15 families at imminent risk. June 29, 2021. Available at: https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/israeli-authorities-demolish-shop-silwan-15-families-imminent



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