The Gaza “Disengagement Plan”, the Israeli government’s plan to remove troops and Jewish settlements from the Gaza Strip would not end Israel’s occupation of the territory, Human Rights Watch said today. As an occupying power, Israel will retain responsibility for the welfare of Gaza’s civilian population. Under the “disengagement” plan endorsed Tuesday by the Knesset, Israeli forces will keep control over Gaza’s borders, coastline and airspace, and will reserve the right to launch incursions at will. Israel will continue to wield overwhelming power over the territory’s economy and its access to trade. Read more about 'Disengagement' will not end Gaza occupation
Over the past four years, the Israeli military has demolished over 2,500 Palestinian houses in the occupied Gaza Strip. Nearly two-thirds of these homes were in Rafah, a densely populated refugee camp and city at the southern end of the Gaza Strip on the border with Egypt. Sixteen thousand people - more than ten percent of Rafah’s population - have lost their homes, most of them refugees, many of whom were dispossessed for a second or third time. It is difficult to reconcile the IDF’s stated rationales with the widespread destruction that has taken place, according to a new report from Human Rights Watch. Read more about Razing Rafah: Mass home demolitions in the Gaza Strip
Israel’s draft budget fails to address systematic discrimination against Palestinian Arab school children, Human Rights Watch said today in letters to the Israeli government. Members of the Israeli cabinet are expected to meet on Sunday to finalize the budget proposal before its submission to Knesset. “Prime Minister Sharon acknowledges that ‘education is the most effective tool to reduce gaps in Israeli society,’ but his budget perpetuates discrimination against children who are Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel,” said Clarisa Bencomo, researcher in Human Rights Watch’s Children’s Rights Division. “This budget does nothing to close the educational gap between Israel’s Jewish and Arab citizens.” Read more about Israel's budget discriminates against Palestinian citizens
Israel should immediately release `Abd al-Latif Gheith, a prominent rights activist now being held without charge in a military detention camp, Human Rights Watch said today. In a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Human Rights Watch said that if Mr. Gheith was suspected of violating any laws, the government should file charges in a court that meets international standards for fair trials. Gheith, 63 years old and board chairman of Addameer, a prisoner support organization based in Ramallah, was detained on July 29 after security officials questioned him at a military checkpoint about Addameer’s activities and staff. Read more about Arrest of Palestinian Human Rights Defender
The Israeli military’s use of tanks and helicopters yesterday to fire on non-violent demonstrators in the southern Gaza Strip constituted an unlawful and unnecessary use of force, Human Rights Watch said today. At least eight people were killed and dozens were injured. “It’s outrageous that Israeli forces used battlefield weaponry to block peaceful marchers,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Human Rights Watch’s Middle East and North Africa division. “By using heavy weapons against non-violent demonstrators, Israel has violated not only international law, but also its own open-fire regulations.” Read more about End unlawful use of force against civilians in Gaza
U.S. President George W. Bush should raise Israeli human rights violations in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip when he hosts Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at the White House on Wednesday, Human Rights Watch said today. “President Bush has said that respect for human rights is central to his administration’s policy in the Middle East,” said Joe Stork, acting Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “But that policy won’t have any credibility unless he presses Sharon to address Israel’s routine violations of basic Palestinian rights.” Read more about Bush Should Press Sharon on Rights Violations
The construction, route and operation of Israel’s separation barrier inside the West Bank violate international human rights and humanitarian law, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today. “Israel has a right and duty to protect its civilians from attack, but it must not use means that entail indiscriminate punishment of entire communities,” said a spokesperson. “Israel’s separation barrier seriously impedes Palestinian access to essentials of civilian life.” Read more about HRW: "West Bank barrier violates human rights"
The United States should deduct the cost of the West Bank separation barrier from U.S. loan guarantees for Israel, Human Rights Watch said today. Read more about West Bank barrier endangers basic rights
Human Rights Watch today welcomed Israel’s announcement that it will investigate the June 9 tank shelling that killed three Palestinian Bedouin women. The women were killed and three other people injured when the shells sprayed razor-sharp darts, known as flechettes, in a populated area where they lived between Gaza City and the Israeli settlement of Netzarim. Human Rights Watch said that the findings of the investigation should be made public and those found responsible held accountable. Read more about Israel: Dart shells pose civilian threat
Israeli legislators should reject a discriminatory bill being rushed through the Knesset, Human Rights Watch said today. If passed, the bill would bar Palestinians married to Israelis from living with their spouses in Israel, affecting thousands of couples. Read more about HRW: "Don't outlaw family life"