Human Rights and Democracy Media Center- SHAMS, affirms that the ongoing invasions, by the Israeli Occupation Army, to the Palestinian localities in the West Bank, is within the case of political deadlock that the occupation government faces. The Israeli practices embody the status quo policy of the Israeli occupation and insistence on proceeding with the crimes against innocent civil Palestinians in their houses and residential locations. The latest ring within these practices was the crime in Tammoun town- Tubas Government on Wednesday 14/8/2024, which resulted in killing 5 Palestinians and wounding others. The Israeli crime comes within the systematic policy to uproot Palestinians and push them to leave their homeland. Additionally, the crimes come in parallel with the ongoing genocide war and enforced displacement against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government is going on with the crimes in the West Bank and targeting civilians and civil objects, mainly in the northern governorates.
SHAMS Center states that the Israeli invasions of the Palestinian cities, towns, villages, and refugee camps in the West Bank, are dedicated to flame the region. The provocative practices of the Israeli right-wing government, including the invasion of Al Aqsa Mosque by approximately three thousand settlers, under the leadership of the Israeli Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, minister of the so-called national security, come within the same policy. Invading Al Aqsa was in recognition of the so-called destruction of the alleged Temple Mountain. In addition to the desire to increase the tension in the region, the Israeli practices are within the insistence of the Israeli occupation on denying international legitimacy and denying Palestinians the right to self-determination.
SHAMS Center asserts that the ongoing invasions of the West Bank are crowning of the policy of escaping punishment and impunity that Israel enjoys in front of the International Criminal Court. Additionally, it reflects the policy of absence of law and the double standards policy applied when dealing with the Palestinian Question.
SHAMS Center stresses that the daily invasions and the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation in the Palestinian cities, towns, villages, and refugee camps in the West Bank, stand as a breach of the International Humanitarian Law. In particular, the occupation violates Article 15 of the Geneva Fourth Convention, which stresses protection for: “civilian persons who take no part in hostilities, and who, while they reside in the zones, perform no work of a military character”. Israel violates the Hague Convention Respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land/ 1907. Article 27 of the mentioned Convention states: “In sieges and bombardments all necessary steps must be taken to spare, as far as possible, buildings dedicated to religion, art, science, or charitable purposes, historic monuments, hospitals, and places where the sick and wounded are collected, provided they are not being used at the time for military purposes. It is the duty of the besieged to indicate the presence of such buildings or places by distinctive and visible signs, which shall be notified to the enemy beforehand”. On a related level, the Israeli government violates the Rome Statute, which serves as the bylaws of the International Criminal Courts, mainly Article 8, which considers a war crime: “Intentionally directing attacks against buildings dedicated to religion, education, art, science or charitable purposes, historic monuments, hospitals and places where the sick and wounded are collected, provided they are not military objectives”.
SHAMS Center calls on the international community, the United Nations, and the UN Secretary-General, as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations, to fulfill their humanitarian and legal duties and to pressure the Israeli occupation government to stop its crimes and ongoing aggression against the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It also urges them to enforce the rules of international humanitarian law by ensuring the protection of civilians and civilian objects from military operations and conflict zones and to provide safe areas for their safety.