GAZA, September 27, 2009 (WAFA)- Al Mezan Center for Human Rights for the members of the UN Human Rights Council to endorse all the recommendations contained in the Goldstone Report , to request that the UN Secretary-General convey the Report to the UN Security Council as soon as possible.
In a press release, Al Mezan urged all supporters of human rights worldwide to write to members of the UN Human Rights Council (contact details listed below) as well as their heads of state and foreign ministers urging them to support the endorsement of the findings of the Goldstone Report at the UN Human Rights Council Session on Tuesday 29 September 2009. The Council members are called to send a clear message that human rights and international law count, and can provide protection to victims.
It said that on September 29, the JUN Rights Council will meet in Geneva to debate the findings of the UN-mandated Independent Fact Finding Mission (the Goldstone Mission) and decide what further action should be taken.
Al Mezan is calling for the members of the Human Rights Council (HRC) to endorse all recommendations in the Goldstone Report; if it fails to do so, the perpetrators of serious international human rights and humanitarian law violations will remain free and at liberty to order, or commit further atrocities. The continued grave violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian territory can only be addressed through asserting the rule of law.
The reality of Operation Cast Lead is now well-known. Palestinian and international human rights organisations have issued numerous reports documenting the serious international human rights and humanitarian law violations, some of which amount to war crimes, perpetrated by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) during Operation Cast Lead.
The evidence presented in these reports is consistent and has been confirmed by the Goldstone Mission. In just 23 days, IOF actions killed 1409 people, including at least 353 children, injured over 4000 people, completely destroyed at least 3,600 homes, displacing around 21,000 people, and completely destroyed 18 schools, depriving thousands of children of their right to education. Israel continued to keep the Gaza Strip sealed shut, preventing civilians from seeking safe refuge.
There is evidence that war crimes and crimes against humanity were committed; some of which continue to be perpetrated until this day, causing great harm to civilians and violating their human rights in contradiction with international law.
The destruction wrought on the Gaza Strip during Operation Cast Lead followed decades of impunity for previous crimes. In the eight years prior to the launch of Operation Cast Lead, Israeli forces killed over 600 children and destroyed over 7,500 homes in the Gaza Strip alone. Israel has continued to expand its illegal settlements in the West Bank (including East Jerusalem|) contrary to peremptory rules of international law and against the will of the international community. Such violations of human rights and international law cannot provide a basis for peace and justice.
Unless the rule of law is at long last upheld, and the perpetrators of these grave crimes brought to justice, the cycle of impunity will continue, and the Palestinian people left to await the next military onslaught. The very foundations of peace and justice will continue to be shattered by grave breaches of international law that undermine any prospects for a future just settlement to the decades-long conflict. Meanwhile, civilians will continue to suffer from the lack of any meaningful actions to ensure the protection of their human rights.
