Ramallah: Human Rights and Democracy Media Center- SHAMS, emphasized that the scenes of the decomposed bodies in the streets and yards of the Gaza Strip, remind of the atrocities of the genocide massacres committed by Nazism during the previous century. The crimes of Nazism became a model of the profound violation of all the ethical, divine, legal, and human values, which protect the dignity of the dead. The scene of the decomposed bodies in the Gaza Strip reflects the horrible crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against Palestinian children, women, and aged persons in front of the world, which stands helpless, and no measures are taken to stop these atrocities.
SHAMS Center warned that the decomposing of the bodies will lead to terrible human and environmental pandemics. Decomposing the bodies will lead to the spread of diseases in the Gaza Strip, which will increase the suffering of Palestinians. The disaster will increase taking into consideration the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and denying the entry of water and medical supplies. Sieging the Gaza Strip deprived people of life essentials including food, water, medicine, and fuel. In addition to that, the Israeli army destroyed the hospitals, health centers, and ambulances, which deprived people of receiving medical treatment. Consequently, the wounded persons are left bleeding to death and diseased persons are dying as a result of the shortage of medical supplies.
SHAMS Center condemned the international and regional silence in front of the Israeli crimes where the silence means that these countries are supporting the Israeli aggression. Within the silence of the world, the Israeli occupation is proceeding to murder Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and destroying life in the Gaza Strip. Israeli crimes represent violations of the international law and the international humanitarian law. In particular, the Israeli crimes violate the Geneva Fourth Convention (mainly Article 16). The given Article states: “Parties to the conflict shall record as soon as possible, in respect of each wounded, sick or dead person of the adverse Party falling into their hands, any particulars which may assist in his identification”. Article 17 of the same Convention states: “The parties to the conflict shall ensure that the dead are disposed of in a respectful manner, and as far as military considerations allow, that their burial or cremation is carried out individually. The body shall be carefully examined, if possible, with a view to confirming death, establishing identity, and enabling a report to be made. One half of the identity disc, or the disc itself if it is single, should remain with the body”. The Israeli crimes violate Article 8 of the Optional Protocol II annexed to the Geneva Convention, which states: “Whenever circumstances permit, and particularly after an engagement, all possible measure shall be taken, without delay, to search for and collect the wounded, sick and shipwrecked, to protect them against pillage and ill-treatment, to ensure their adequate care, and to search for the dead, prevent their being”. In addition to that, it violates Rules 112- 116 of the ICRC Study of the Customary International Humanitarian Law, which stress searching for the dead and bringing back their bodies to their families.
At the end of its press statement, the SHAMS Center called on the United Nations and its affiliated agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and governmental and non-governmental international human rights organizations to fulfill their humanitarian, ethical, contractual, and legal obligations. The Center urged for urgent action to compel the Israeli occupation state to allow medical teams, the Red Crescent, and civil defense to evacuate the bodies. It emphasized the necessity of enabling them to handle the victims’ bodies, whether under the rubble of demolished buildings or strewn in the streets, for proper burial that ensures the dignity of the deceased in accordance with internationally recognized principles