Adalah takes legal action in response to Israeli military attacks on Gaza, killing of civilians
Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, Gisha, and Physicians for Human Rights Israel sent an urgent letter on 12 May 2021 warning Israel's defense minister, attorney general, and military advocate general that indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force against civilians in Gaza, and attacks on residential homes and civilian infrastructure are prohibited and raise grave suspicions of severe violations of international humanitarian law that could amount to war crimes.
In following action on 13 May 2021, Adalah – together with 10 other human rights and civil society organizations – sent an urgent appeal to Israel’s defense minister, attorney general, and Coordinator of Government Operations in the Occupied Territories demanding that they reverse the decision to close Gaza’s crossings, allow movement of people and passage of aid.
Three days later, on 16 May 2021, Adalah, Gisha, Physicians for Human Rights, Zazim, and Machsom Watch send a third letter to Israel’s defense minister, attorney general, and military advocate general, demanding again that they act immediately to halt the Israeli military’s deadly attacks on the civilian population in Gaza, as well as strikes on civilian buildings and infrastructure, which have been continuous since 10 May 2021.
The organizations reiterated that these attacks raise grave suspicions of serious violations of international humanitarian law.
This third letter also refers to remarks made by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on the evening of 15 May, in which he gave his full backing to Israel’s attacks on Gaza and expressed his determination to continue them, stating that:
“Israel has responded forcefully to these [Hamas] attacks and we will continue to respond forcefully… ”
Netanyahu's remarks leave no doubt that the State of Israel is in no way willing to open criminal investigations into suspicions of violations of international humanitarian law by its forces in Gaza, including the killing and wounding of civilians.
(Photo: Gigi Ibrahim/Flickr Creative Commons)
