Human Rights and Democracy Media Center- SHAMS, affirms that the continuation of the Israeli aggression against Palestinians, for more than a hundred days, has uncovered the lies and false claims of some influencing countries, which keep arguing for protecting human rights and International Law. It is time for the world to interfere immediately to stop the systematic Israeli aggression against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Despite the large number of victims and the mass destruction of buildings and civil objects, yet, the world did not take any measures to curb the Israeli aggression despite the horrific crimes and mass destruction caused by the Israeli occupation against Palestinians. The scenes in the Gaza Strip resemble the scenes of the genocide crimes that took place during World War II where millions of innocent civilians were killed. SHAMS Center affirmed that in light of the atrocities committed during World War II, the United Nations emerged. The United Nations developed several conventions and treaties to protect human rights and ensure that the committed crimes will not be repeated in any other context. Although the countries that won World War II, are still seen on the global scene, yet, they did nothing to protect the Palestinians. On the contrary, these countries are aligned with the occupation in its aggression against Palestinians.
SHAMS Center stresses that without the unconditional support from the colonial powers, the occupation could not have proceeded in its aggression against Palestinians. The Occupation is going on in its crimes under the eyes of the international community and international order. Some countries are participating in the aggression and they are aligning with the occupation. These countries are those which have a colonial history that includes genocide and ethnic cleansing against indigenous people. The mentioned countries committed several crimes of genocide and were established on the ruins of the native residents of the countries they colonized. They are still practicing the same policy through supporting the occupation in the crimes and genocide against Palestinians by providing military aids and providing political support in the United Nations Security Council. The countries that support the occupation have left the colonialism era geographically, but colonialism thought is still rooted deep in their mentality and interpreted in their behavior. Such a thought and philosophy is expressed clearly in the endless support they provide to the occupation support in its aggression against Palestinians.
SHAMSA Center emphasizes that it could not have been possible for the occupation to go on with its genocide war and aggression against Palestinians, without the conspiracy from some international countries. The Center stated that according to the statistics published by official institutions, including the Palestinian Ministry of Health, 1968 massacres have been committed against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, up to date. 30469 Palestinians were killed or missed as a result to the Israeli attacks. 23469 martyrs were officially documented by the hospitals including 10300 children and 7100 women. there are 337 martyrs from the medical and paramedical teams in addition to 45 martyrs from the civil defense teams. 117 martyrs are from the journalists and there are 7000 missed persons (70% of them are children and women). As for the wounded, there are 59604 wounded persons in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the aggression. 6200 wounded persons are in critical situations and they need to be transferred outside the country to receive treatment to save their lives where the wounded who were transferred to receive treatment abroad, were only 707 persons. On a related level, 10 thousand cancer diseased patients in the Gaza Strip are facing death currently. The occupation forces arrested 99 of the medical cadres and 10 journalists and the number of displaced persons reached 2 million persons. Pandemic diseases spread widely in the Gaza Strip where there are 400 thousands of persons who face infectious diseases as a result of being displaced and exposed to other groups of people and unhealthy circumstances. The infrastructure and civic establishments are systematically destroyed where 134 governmental facilities have been demolished in addition to 95 schools and universities entirely demolished while another 295 were partially demolished. 240 mosques and 3 churches were partially demolished as a result of being targeted directly by the occupation. 200 archeological and heritage sites were entirely demolished by the attacks of the occupation. Houses were targeted as a main target by the attacks where 69200 residential units were entirely demolished while 290 thousand of units were partially demolished. Hospitals and medical centers were intentionally targeted where 30 hospitals became out of service and so did 53 medical centers. 150 health facilities were partially targeted by the occupation forces alongside targeting 121 ambulances, which were destroyed. During the aggression, 65 thousand Tons of explosive materials and international prohibited lethal, were dropped on the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the aggression.
SHAMS Center states that the crimes of the occupation against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip could not have been committed without the feeling among the occupation leaders that they have impunity and the international community will not account them for these crimes. Within such a feeling, the occupation is proceeding in killing Palestinians and denying the entry of life essentials such as food, water, medicine, and fuel. The occupation is protected by some major countries like the United States and the United Kingdom and other countries, which use their power to affect the decisions of international institutions, especially the UN agencies. These countries are violating all the principles and values of democracy and human rights as well as violating the dignity of the various nations and the principles of justice and civilization that the so-called free world, keeps arguing for.
SHAMS Center affirms that the crimes of the Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip violate the International Law and International Human Rights Law and they stand as genocide crimes according to the International Law. Article 18 of the Geneva Fourth Convention- 1949 stipulates: “Protection of hospitals. Civilian hospitals organized to give care to the wounded and sick, the infirm and maternity cases, may in no circumstances be the object of attack, but shall at all times be respected and protected by the Parties to the conflict”. Furthermore, the actions committed by Israel constitute a breach of Article 24 of the First Geneva Convention. This article stipulates that individuals dedicated solely to the search for, collection, transportation, or treatment of the wounded or sick, those involved in disease prevention, and staff exclusively administering medical units and facilities, along with chaplains attached to the armed forces, are to be respected and protected”. The Israeli occupation is in violation of the Hague Convention (IV) Respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land- 1907. Article 27 of the mentioned Convention specifically dictates that “In sieges and bombardments, all necessary steps should be taken to spare, as far as possible, edifices devoted to religion, art, science, and charity, hospitals, and places where the sick and wounded are collected, provided they are not used at the same time for military purposes”. Article 56 of the same Convention states: “The property of the communes, that of religious, charitable, and educational institutions, and those of arts and science, even when State property, shall be treated as private property”.
In its press statement, SHAMS Center urges the United Nations, its affiliated institutions and agencies, the Holy See in the Vatican, governments of states signatory to the Geneva Conventions, the International Red Cross, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), Amnesty International, governmental, and non-governmental organizations to fulfill their responsibilities. The statement calls for collective efforts to exert pressure on the Israeli occupation government, demanding an immediate cessation of its aggression and daily crimes against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. The statement emphasizes the necessity of allowing the entry of humanitarian aid, both food and medical supplies, into the besieged region. It also underscores the importance of protecting civilians and civilian objects from targeting, in compliance with the provisions of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.