SHAMS Center condemns permanent crimes committed by the Israeli forces against the Palestinian people. Since the State of Israel has violated both International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Laws, and has made killing he Palestinians as its first purpose. Crimes are proved by the measures of the Israeli forces in the occupied Palestinian territories on daily basis, and by the cameras of journalists and eyewitnesses who documented executing Palestinians in cold blood. Moreover, Israel is the only state which implement the death penalty outside the frame of court.
“SHAMS” Center reminds that death sentences are inflicted in the Palestinian territories in alarming rates. As an example, until 9/10/2016 (16) death sentences were inflicted and (12) of them were in military courts while 1 sentence was inflicted in civil court.
Among these sentences, (4) of them were inflicted by the Supreme Military Court supporting to previous ones so, the number of death sentences has increased to reach (180) since 1994 until 5/10/2016 against citizens accused of different crimes. It is worth noting that (30) sentences were inflicted in the West Bank, while (150) ones were inflicted in Gaza Strip among which, (92) sentences were inflicted only in 2007. And since its inception, the Palestinian Authority PA implemented 35 death penalties (33) ones in the Gaza Strip and (2) in the West Bank. And among penalties issued in Gaza Strip, (22) ones were executed only in 2007 extra-judicially without the ratification of the Palestinian president.
Furthermore, issuing sentences by the Military Court based on the articles of the Revolutionary Code of the PLO of 1979 breaks the Basic Law. Since the revolutionary Code is unconstitutional due to not being adopted by legislations or decisions, and the Code contradicts the International Bill of Human Rights and related charters.
SHAMS” Center Emphasizes its support and solidarity with families of victims. And calling for abolition of death penalty doesn’t mean tolerating criminals accused with serious crimes, but it signifies that the center urges to replace the penalty with other deterrent one which respects human rights and dignity. Death penalty represents the cruelest form of intentional murder, it is harsh and doesn’t fulfill the objectives of the state. Additionally, it is the only irreversible punishment even if the executed victims appeared to be innocent.
“SHAMS” center assures that carrying out the capital punishment doesn’t deter crimes or criminals so, enhancing the rule of law is the key towards achievement of law enforcement and preserving security without discrimination.
And employing the capital punishment to oppose murder and as a legitimate way to deter crimes indicates weakness in challenging criminality and incapacity to conquer its causes. Before execution the personal, social and family reasons which motivated such people to commit crimes should be taken into consideration.
Accordingly, it is significant to respect human dignity, to provide life essentials especially in Gaza Strip and to handle unemployment, immigration, suicide and combating corruption. In addition to improve health and social conditions, to supply with a decent life in terms of providing work, social security, freedom, physical safety and other requirements of life basics in order to conquer crimes.
“SHAMS” Center Urges authorities to abolish the death penalty from the Palestinian legislations, to sign the Second Protocol of 1989 Annexed to International Convenant on Civil and Political Rights regarding the abolition of death penalty. The center also calls the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas so as not approve death sentences, and to utilize his constitutional powers to cancel the capital punishment in the Palestinian legislations.
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