The Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights on Friday condemned the continued targeting of unarmed civilians participating in peaceful marches in the eastern Gaza Strip and the use of excessive force in dealing with their peaceful protests.
In a press release received by The Palestine News Network, the Center reiterated its repeated calls for the international community to move from the condemnation box to active intervention to stop Israeli violations and protect civilians, ensure respect for the rules of international law, work to apply justice in the occupied Palestinian territories, end the siege and enable the Palestinian people to exercise the right
The statement reads:
On Friday, the 85th of the return marches.
Israeli forces are expecting 44 injuries, including 18 children, one woman and one journalist.
Al-Mezan condemns continued Israeli violations and calls on the international community to intervene and protect civilians
The Israeli occupation forces continue to target Palestinian civilians participating in peaceful marches along the separation fence east of the Gaza Strip for the 85th consecutive Friday, using excessive force in their dealings with children, women and young people participating in these marches, as well as medical personnel
The Israeli occupying forces, stationed on the eastern fence separating the governorates of the Gaza Strip, fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the participants in the return marches along the Gaza Strip east of Gaza Strip, targeting journalists. The use of excessive force resulted in 44 protesters, including 18 children, one woman and one journalist, including 11 who were hit by live bullets, and five people directly injured by gas bombs. Medical sources at the Palestinian Ministry of Health also described three of them seriously, including a child.
In the context of targeting journalists, Northern online photographer Thaer Khaled Fahmy Abu Rush, 24, was hit by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg while covering his movement back in eastern Gaza.
According to al-Mezan Center for Human Rights documents, the number of deaths resulting from Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the return marches began on 30/03/2018, until the issuance of this statement, (364) martyrs, including 15 martyrs, continues the occupation authorities. Their bodies, including two children, were detained, including 215 people killed while participating in the return marches, including 47 children, two women, nine people with disabilities, four paramedics and two journalists.
He was also injured (19,173), including (4,987) children and (864) women, of whom (9,506) were injured by live bullets, including (2,127) children and (190) women. While medical personnel were targeted (281) times, 225 paramedics were injured, 44 of them were repeatedly injured more than once, while journalists (249) were targeted more than once, resulting in 174 journalists, 43 of whom were repeatedly injured more than once.
The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights strongly condemns the continued targeting of unarmed civilians participating in peaceful marches, the use of excessive force in dealing with their peaceful protests, particularly children and women, and the repeated targeting of medical personnel and journalists, regardless of the rules of international law and the principles of law.
The Center for Balance renews its repeated calls for the international community to move from the framework of condemnation to active intervention to stop Israeli violations, protect civilians, ensure respect for the rules of international law, work to apply justice in the occupied Palestinian territories, end the siege, and enable the Palestinian people to exercise their right.
