The Palestinian Center for Human Rights released a report today calling attention to the 26 Palestinians killed during the past week by Israeli forces. The report highlighted the lack of accountability of Israeli officials committing war crimes, in violation with the Fourth Geneva Convention and specifically, the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.
In addition to targeting innocent civilians, the report noted that Israeli forces are also targeting press crews working to cover the Israeli attacks. Such targeting is preventing journalists from doing their job and is hindering the ability of the international community to see the inside of the conflict.
In the report, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights also detailed the crimes committed against the Palestinian people beginning with the Israeli incursion into the Gaza Strip on 25 June 2006. The crimes have included:
* 115 Palestinian citizens killed, more than half of whom were unarmed
* Around 550 Palestinian citizens wounded, including 134 children and 19 women
* 124 bombings of civilian and military targets in the Gaza Strip, as well as the release of hundreds of artillery shells from land and sea
* The destruction of the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Minstry of the National Economy, and the Prime Minister’s Office in Gaza, along with the destruction of several educational institutions
* The destruction of power stations, which provide 45% of the electricity to the Gaza Strip, which resulted in power outages for over half of the population
* The destruction of six bridges in the central and northern sector, and the destruction of several roads, hindering movement of the civilian population.
