The Israeli occupation has released a video depicting an Israeli
vehicle running deliberately over a civilian Palestinian body who died while attempting to flee to
southern Gaza. Eyewitnesses said that he was crossing Salahuddin
main road–an ostensibly secure route for southern evacuation–only to be fatally
shot and run over by a military vehicle for symbolic purposes.
The Palestinian Association for Human
Rights (Witness) strongly condemns this heinous act, alongside other blatant
violations such as symbolizing by dead bodies, as reported by various organizations
and media outlets. It is noteworthy that more than 11,000 lives have been lost and
28,000 wounded in the Israeli attack against Gaza.
Recent actions underscore that Israeli
occupation violations are not confined to living people. In fact, (Witness)
reveals a consistent pattern of mistreatment of dead Palestinian bodies, a historical
injustice perpetuated by the occupation since its establishment. Not only are
the bodies subjected to abuse, but they are also withheld, denying families the
right to dignified burial. As of mid-year, the Israeli occupation has retained over
370 bodies.
In light of the aforementioned, (Witness)
affirms that the Israeli occupation's violations against Palestinian bodies are
not sporadic incidents but integral to a systematic oppression of Palestinians,
particularly civilians.
Monitoring the acts of the Israeli
occupation throughout decades and in the current aggression against Gaza Strip
verifies direct targeting of civilians in a flagrant violation of international
laws and agreements. It is crucial to
highlight that the appalling actions carried out by the occupation forces in
Gaza against this Palestinian youth constitute a blatant breach of
international laws. Urgent action by the international community is imperative
to address such violations.
These acts violate international norms emphasizing
the dignified and respectful treatment of dead bodies, prohibiting their mutilation
and humiliation. Civilians must not endure torture, abuse, or humiliation, in addition to
the strict prohibition of directing military operations against them or any
property.
Referring to the basic principles of the
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Article 8(2)(a)(i) explicitly
classifies the willful killing of civilians in international armed conflicts as
a war crime. The right to life for all is safeguarded by Article 3 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, while Article 5 explicitly prohibits
subjecting any individual to torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
In this statement, the Palestinian
Association of Human Rights (Witness) urges the international community to open
an independent inquiry into this incident and other atrocities, holding those
responsible accountable. We also call for measures to prevent the recurrence of
such appalling violations in the future, emphasizing the imperative of
upholding the fundamental human rights of the Palestinian people. This requires
active intervention and sustained pressure on the Israeli occupation to cease
the ongoing massacres in Gaza.
The Palestinian Association for Human
Rights (Witness)
November 13, 2023