Palestinian Authority: Hamas must stop targeting of civilians

[barb162]

http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE210062006

31 January 2006


Palestinian Authority: Hamas must stop targeting of civilians
Amnesty International today called upon Hamas (the Islamic Resistance Movement) to commit unequivocally to abide by international law, respect the rights of all Palestinians across the political spectrum, and repudiate its policy of targeting Israeli civilians.

"As it prepares to form the next Palestinian Authority (PA) government, Hamas must undertake to spare no effort to end the spiral of violence which has cost the lives of so many Palestinian and Israeli civilians," urged Amnesty International.

The prohibition on targeting civilians is absolute in international law. It applies to everyone at all times, including people under occupation who are striving for self-determination, as well as to the occupying power.

The campaign of suicide bombings and deliberate attacks against Israeli civilians by Hamas and other armed groups constitutes crimes against humanity – among the most serious crimes under international law. Hamas should publicly renounce this policy, commit to ending such attacks and cooperate in bringing to justice those who plan and take part in them.

snip

[On the Road]

1. Hamas Should Target Israeli Military Only

and they have a right to expect that Israel will target only armed combantants as well.

[pocket]

2. maybe Israel should stop targetting kids

.

[barb162]

3. You mean the Palestinian armed groups "target" kids?

I think the Palestinian militants groups are targetting the kids per the article below from Human Rights Watch.

From AI:"The prohibition on targeting civilians is absolute in international law. It applies to everyone at all times, including people under occupation who are striving for self-determination, as well as to the occupying power."


Also, from Human Rights Watch
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/11/02/isrlpa9591.htm

Occupied Territories: Stop Use of Children in Suicide Bombings
(New York, November 3, 2004) -- Palestinian armed groups should immediately end all use of children in military attacks, Human Rights Watch said today, following a Tel Aviv suicide bombing by a 16-year-old that killed three Israeli civilians Monday.

Any attack on civilians is prohibited by international law, but using children for suicide attacks is particularly egregious. Palestinian armed groups must clearly and publicly condemn all use of children under the age of 18 for military activities, and make sure these policies are carried out.

Jo Becker, children’s rights advocacy director at Human Rights Watch


Most Palestinian armed groups claim to disavow the use of children in military activities, but at least 10 children have carried out suicide attacks in Israel and the Occupied Territories since October 2000. Monday’s attack was the second suicide bombing by a child linked to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. A previous attack by a 17-year-old in Netanya in May 2002 was also linked to the group.

“Any attack on civilians is prohibited by international law, but using children for suicide attacks is particularly egregious,” said Jo Becker, children’s rights advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. “Palestinian armed groups must clearly and publicly condemn all use of children under the age of 18 for military activities, and make sure these policies are carried out.”

Major Palestinian armed groups, including Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Islamic Jihad, and Hamas, have publicly disavowed the use of children in military operations, but those stated policies have not always been implemented. Some leaders, including representatives of Islamic Jihad and Hamas, have said that they consider children of 16 to be adults. International law defines a child as any person under the age of eighteen.
snip

[not systems]

4. Right...

Maybe your fantasy IDF doesn't but the real one does.

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=645818

IDF court acquits officer accused of 'confirming kill' of Gaza girl

The Southern Command court on Tuesday acquitted Israel Defense Forces Captain "R" of all charges relating to the killing of a Palestinian girl in the Gaza Strip in October 2004.

The case received wide-spread media attention when R was suspected of "confirming the kill" and shooting the girl multiple times once she had already been hit by IDF gunfire and was lying on the ground.

The father of Iman al-Hams, Samir, reacted with anger and shock to Captain R's acquittal. "I am a teacher and I object to the killing of Jewish or Arab children under any circumstances, but the court has proven there is one law for Jews and another for Arabs," he said after the verdict was issued.

...

Defense attorneys also maintained that what appeared to be "confirmation" of the girl's death by R was, in fact, a known IDF practice employed to eliminate immediate threats.

...

[barb162]

6. Does your fantasy include that this soldier wasn't investigated

and tried in a court of law? Do you see this as totally different than armed groups who send their own children out on suicide bomber missions and cheer them for doing so?

[not systems]

7. What do you call a court that sanctions state terror?

Legalism and formalities can't hide a policy of killing children.

I don't see it as "totally different" but essentially the same one
group just has better props and propaganda to justify their violence.

[Colorado Blue]

8. Oh give us a break. If children are packing explosives or

smuggling arms or present an immediate threat to people's lives, should they get a free pass?

This isn't unusual in the Middle East, unfortunately. During the Iran/Iraq war, 9 year olds were sent into mine fields, died in combat. Homicide bombers or would-be homicide bombers have included very young people, including a girl who intended to blow up an Israeli hospital where she'd been treated for burns.

[not systems]

10. What a few bullet riddled children here and there...

after all they are mostly monsters?

Did I understand your spin on the IDF gunning down children
and the courts that sanction it correct?

Looks like it to me.

FYI: The girl murdered by the IDF in the story was not "packing explosives"
but when did being actually innocent get the sympathy of the apologists
for state terror.

[barb162]

13. Is Amnesty International article spin? Is the HRW article spin?

oh, that's very interesting.

[not systems]

15. no, no and spin was...

what you were doing when you claimed the IDF doesn't kill children.

Then went on to justify it...

[Dixie Flatline]

17. The IDF does not target innocent civilians

On the other hand, the Palestinian government's official policy is that "jihad" against Jewish civilians is righteous and is actively encouraged.

[not systems]

18. See post #4...

The IDF most certainly does kill children and wraps it with "legal" justifications.

[barb162]

26. Palestinian militant groups kill Palestinian kids and don't bother

with legal niceties.

[Englander]

35. Yes it does.

See post #33.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=124&topic_id=114285&mesg_id=114402

[barb162]

27. "...using children for suicide attacks is particularly egregious"

Quote from Human Rights Watch article. That's not spin. Nothing justifies it

[not systems]

28. I agree ...

but unlike you I am not defending the murder of children by the IDF.

[barb162]

29. and show me where I do that

[not systems]

30. post #6

Where you claimed that the IDF's "legal" whitewash was justice.

[barb162]

31. Wrong, there was a trial and investigation

And where's the trials and investigations of the Palestinians who send kids out for suicide bombings, who run schools to train kids for suicide bombings, etc? Have you seen any? I haven't

[barb162]

14. Do you mean a few bullet ridden Israeli children killed too?

Do you mean ALL children?

[not systems]

16. No children should be killed and justified by...

supremacist legal or religious doctrines.

[barb162]

25. No children should be used for violent purposes or killed, period

[Englander]

34. Now, *that* is a disgusting attitude,

Not only a straw man, but an utterly repugant one. For shame, CB.
The idf, have, on occasions deliberately killed children, & any attempt
to deny that really is revolting.

[barb162]

9. what do you call a group tricking a 12 yr. old to be a bomb smuggler

http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Terrorism+and+Islamic+Fundamentalism-/Fatah+tricks+12-year-old+boy+into+becoming+a+suicide+terrorist.htm

Fatah Tricks 12-year-old Boy into Becoming a Suicide Terrorist

15 Mar 2004

On March 15, 2004, IDF soldiers detained a 12 year-old Palestinian boy, Abdallah Quran, while he was attempting to smuggle a powerful bomb through the Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus. Two Nablus based Fatah-Tanzim terrorists had exploited the boy's innocent appearance, and used him to carry an fully armed explosive device through the checkpoint. The boy, who works as a porter in the area, told the soldiers that he was unaware that he was even carrying the bomb. The terrorists, members of Arafat's own Fatah faction, had planned to use the boy as an unwitting suicide bomber, intending to detonate the explosives with a mobile phone as the boy passed near the Israeli soldiers manning the checkpoint.

The IDF soldiers noticed the suspicious looking bag in the boy's possession, examined it, and found a 7-10 kg explosive charge packed with metal shards and shrapnel. A sapper arrived at the scene and safely detonated the device in a controlled explosion. The boy was questioned and subsequently released.

Yesterday's foiled attack emphasizes the cynical manner in which terrorist organizations exploit Palestinian children and young people, who can easily pass through crowded areas without arousing suspicion. This practice severely harms the freedom of movement of Palestinian residents who must pass through checkpoints on a daily basis, and further underscores the importance of security checks at the checkpoints. snip

[not systems]

11. Unelectable? n/t

[barb162]

12. School trains suicide bombers

Do you really want to "talk" about sanctioned terror? Then read this:


Wednesday, 18 July, 2001, 22:04 GMT 23:04 UK


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/1446003.stm
Wednesday, 18 July, 2001, 22:04 GMT 23:04 UK

School trains suicide bombers


By Jeremy Cooke in Gaza
The Islamic Jihad is running a summer school - to teach boys the benefits of becoming suicide bombers.

A new generation of children, Palestinian boys aged between 12 and 15 years old, is growing up amid conflict and violence.


The militant group has a sworn mission to wage a holy war against Israel.

The boys are told not only that it is good to kill, but also that it is good to die.

They learn that suicide bomb attacks have proved the most deadly way to hit the Israelis
snip

--
Israel is trying to stop this child abuse.

[Colorado Blue]

5. Also, the percentages of non-combattant deaths varies

greatly. By far the larger percentage of Israeli deaths are noncombattants, including women, children and older men.

Fact: terrorists deliberately target civilians - period.

[channa18]

19. What unmitigated gall !!!

the pa suddenly gives a rats ass about innocent civilians ??

This is the same PA that...

1. N E V E R arrested one terrorist

2. Paid for the Death-ship known as the Korine-a

3. Claimed they had no control over Hamas

4. Praised the suicide bombers

5. Sheltered HAMAS against Israeli retaliation

6. went apopletic over when israel sent a terrorist to hell

7. Allowed/controlled/encouraged their OWN pa tv and radio to spew the most vile disgusting blatently anti-semitic rhetoric and propaganda ever heard since the 1930's.

8. Glorified and extolled terrorists by naming streets and soccer teams after these bloodthirsty murderers.

and about 100 things i cant even think of.


Awwww...now that they are suddenly out of power because of their own spineless and failed leadership they suddenly CARE ABOUT INNOCENT CIVILIANS ??? Amazing they can play the bs with a straight face.......YEAH , SURE.....I believe that.....when hell freezes over.

[not systems]

20. "Paid for the Death-ship known as the Korine-a"

I can't find any thing on google about this.

Link?

[channa18]

21. You are kidding, right ?

:shrug:

[not systems]

22. Try it...

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Death+ship+Korine-a&btnG=Google+Search

All results appear to be about Harmony Korine.

got link?

On edit I see one link to "jrants.com" is that your source?

[channa18]

23. Amazinly youre right.....my apologies....

plug in "palestinian korine-a"

[not systems]

24. thanks n/t

[eyl]

32. Try "Karine A" n/t

[Englander]

33. Here's another ai report, which provides some info.

Although the info does include instances where the idf have deliberately
killed children, so...

'20 November 2004

Israel and the Occupied Territories and the Palestinian Authority

ACT NOW TO STOP THE KILLING OF CHILDREN!

Palestinian and Israeli children continue to be killed, victims of the policies and practices of grown-ups who show utter disregard for the most basic human right, the right to life. In the past four years, since the outbreak of the Palestinian uprising (intifada), more than 550 Palestinian children have been killed by the Israeli army and more than 100 Israeli children have been killed by Palestinian armed groups. In the first 10 months of this year, some 150 Palestinian children and eight Israeli children have been killed.

Palestinian children have been killed and injured by the Israeli army, as a result of deliberate as well as reckless shooting by soldiers and shelling and bombardments of densely populated residential areas including refugee camps in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. Others were killed when Israeli soldiers used excessive and disproportionate force during demonstrations or when the army launched missiles into busy streets to assassinate Palestinian militants.

The Israeli authorities have frequently stated that their troops only open fire when their lives are at risk and only respond to the sources of fire. Amnesty International’s research indicates that this is not so. Amnesty International delegates have themselves witnessed unprovoked, random and reckless shooting and shelling by the Israeli army into Palestinian residential and crowed areas. Such practices, which have also been witnessed by representatives of the United Nations, European Union, members of parliaments, journalists and other foreign visitors to the Occupied Territories, have resulted in the killings of hundreds of Palestinian children and hundreds of unarmed adults.

Israeli authorities have expressed regret for some of the killings of Palestinian children, claiming they occurred as a result of mistakes. However, the Israeli army and government officials who are responsible for the conduct of soldiers and approve the army’s operations, are fully aware that the use of certain weapons and/or munitions in certain situations invariably results in the killing or injuring of bystanders, including children. This reality became clear from the first days of the intifada, four years ago, when 15 Palestinian children and dozens of other unarmed Palestinian protesters were shot dead by Israeli soldiers in the first two weeks of demonstrations.

The killings of more than 550 Palestinian children cannot just be dismissed as "mistakes". Amnesty International is concerned that the consistent failure of the Israeli judicial authorities to carry out thorough and credible investigations into these killings, and to bring those responsible for unlawful killings to justice, has undoubtedly encouraged such violations to continue.

http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE020022004?open&of=ENG-ISR

[pelsar]

36. very true:

The killings of more than 550 Palestinian children cannot just be dismissed as "mistakes".

some of those kids (14-17yr olds) pack AK-47s....hence no mistake in killing them.

others were killed by "reckless and overwhelming force"...which i'm not sure if i agree to such a description (reckless can mean the soldier was panicking looking for the source and "overwhelming" means the IDF had a great way to neurtrilize the threat-if your in the field, such a thing is welcome)

and the rest?....some mistaken, some not, wars a tough place to make judgement call when your and your friends lives are at stake, and your only 19.

amnestys blanket condemnation doesnt really connect to the reality on the ground.