TULKARM, December 7, 2015
(WAFA) – At least three Palestinian students were injured with live ammunition
during renewed clashes with Israeli army forces, who broke into the campus of
Palestine Technical University (Kadoorie) in Tulkarem.
WAFA correspondent said Israeli
troops broke into the campus of Kadoorie, provoking clashes with students who
responded to the Israeli incursion by throwing stones at the soldiers.
The soldiers used live
ammunition, rubber baton rounds and stun grenades against students, injuring at
least three students with live bullets. They were transferred to hospital for
medical treatment.
Dozens others suffocated due to
inhaling teargas.
The university campus, located
just close to the border fence with Israel, has been witnessing renewing
clashes between Israeli forces and students during the past few weeks.
According to the university’s
public relations department, tension has been running high at the campus due to
Israeli forces’ continuous attempts to take over part of the campus’ land for
the benefit of expanding a nearby Israeli military training base.
At least 115 Palestinians have
been killed by Israeli fire during an ongoing unrest in the West Bank since
early October 2015.
According to a story published
by al-Haq Human Rights on November 30th, 2015 “Since October 2015,
IOF attacks against the University have escalated. Confrontations between
students and the IOF are recurring.”
“As Israeli violations continue
to infringe upon Palestinian rights and freedoms throughout the OPT,
Palestinian students and universities have also been severely affected.”
“Al-Quds University in Abu Dis
and the Palestine Technical University - Kadoorie in Tulkarem have been
subjected to the IOF's raids, and use of tear gas and ammunition over the past
two months,” stressing that, “These acts have damaged the campuses, put
students' lives at risk, and hindered their education.”
The rights group noted that, “The
Palestine Technical University - Kadoorie is a public university, where
approximately 700,000 students study and 370,000 individuals are employed, has
long struggled with the Israeli Occupying authorities.”
It further noted that at least
200 dunums of the University's land were appropriated by the Annexation Wall.
The University is also surrounded by the Geshuri chemical factories from the
south, and a permanent Israeli checkpoint to the west.
“Approximately 23 dunums of the
University's land were confiscated by the IOF, and are used as a military
training area, consequently Israeli soldiers are routinely present there.”
According to Al-Haq
investigations, the University's land is governmental and within 'Area
A' of the Oslo Accords, i.e. should be under full Palestinian control.
“The IOF's attacks against
universities in the OPT hinder students' access and right to education which is
guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,” said al-Haq.
“the IOF's raids on the
University infringes upon and restricts students' right to peaceful assembly as
guaranteed in Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights.”
“Alongside international human
rights law, Israel, as an Occupying Power, is bound by the provisions of international
humanitarian law to ensure protection and functioning of educational
institutions. As such, Article 27 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states that
protected persons “shall at all times be humanely treated, and shall be
protected especially against all acts of violence or threats thereof.”
The destruction of property
belonging to the State or others, as in the case of Kadoorie University and
Al-Quds University, is prohibited when there is no absolute military necessity,
as affirmed by Article 53 of the Fourth Geneva Convention,” al-Haq concluded.
M.N./T.R.
