GAZA, MARCH 9, 2007 (WAFA) - Al-Haq Organization for Human Rights called on the international community to compel Israel to cease all acts that violate the fundamental protections guaranteed to women and girls under international human rights and humanitarian law.

On the occasion of International Women's Day, under the theme of 'Ending Impunity for Violence against Women and Girls, al-Haq said this year International Women's Day is commemorated as Israel's ongoing occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, enters its 40th year.

"Over these 40 years, the Israeli authorities have consistently violated the rights of the Palestinian people as enshrined under international law. Like all Palestinians, Palestinian women and girls are regularly subjected to harassment, intimidation and even violence at Israeli checkpoints scattered throughout the West Bank, as well as being the victims of arbitrary arrest and detention, and having severe restrictions placed on their freedom of movement. Furthermore, Palestinian women have not been exempt from extreme violence at the hands of Israel, the Occupying Power," al-Haq said ina press release.

Since the outbreak of the Al-Aqsa Intifada in September 2000, the Israeli military has killed 264 Palestinian women, including 100 girls.

Al-Haq called upon the international community to shoulder its legal responsibilities and prosecute those who have committed grave breaches of international humanitarian law, such as the wilful killing of Palestinian women or girls.

A.D (20:15P) (18:15GMT)