Palestinian people need international protection and embargo on all military exports to Israel

THE Palestine National Liberation Movement (Fatah) has said is “alarmed by the level and intensity of atrocities committed by Israel and it has called for the international community and friends and allies of the Palestinian people to speak out to “stop the Israeli Army and colonial settlers' attacks on Palestinians, and invasion of the holy places, including Al-Aqsa Mosque”.

In the longer-term, the Palestine liberation movement said that the Palestinian people need international protection, an embargo on all military exports to Israel, and a ban on the trade of illegal settlement products, adding:

“Finally, it is time that the international community mobilises all efforts to end the Israeli occupation of our land and moves seriously to achieve real peace in the Middle East.”

In a lengthy statement issued on Monday, Fatah pointed out that, since 1 October 2015, “Israel has murdered 27 Palestinians (17 of them are women and children)” and injured more than 1,350 civilians.

“The escalation of aggression and attacks that has seen the cold-blooded assassination of several unarmed civilians – such as Fadi Alloon of Jerusalem , Hadil Hashlmon of Hebron, and Isra Abed of Affuleh – while Palestinian homes have been demolished, as an act of collective punishment, are a disgrace to humanity and international law,” Fatah said.

Fatah urged people around the world:

“Please cry out for a halt to Israeli targeting of our children,”

It wants people to call for an end to the Israeli siege of Palestinian towns and villages of the West Bank and Gaza and an end to the Israeli settlement project on the Palestinian territories.

“In an unprecedented act, Israel barred Palestinians from entering Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa mosque and the Old City. Settler invasion of Al Aqsa mosque continued, with the support of the Israeli Army. These provocative actions are aimed at further entrenching Israel’s control and illegal annexation over East Jerusalem.

“These actions continue to enflame tensions while shifting the conflict from a political one that could be resolved to a perpetual religious confrontation.

Settler attacks on Palestinian villagers include shooting and beating of Palestinian civilians, vandalising homes, obstructing Palestinians’ movement (including through blocking streets) and burning olive orchards and other crops, Fatah said.

“The Israeli mayor of Jerusalem asked all Jewish residents of the city to carry arms and use them against Palestinians.

“More than 650,000 Israeli settlers are currently present in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in Israeli colonial settlements, mostly built during the period of the Oslo peace process since 1993. Notably, such a transfer of civilians is illegal under the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention and considered a war crime under the Rome Charter of the International Criminal Court.

The “alarming excessive use of force” is the outcome of three events, Fatah said:

1. The Israeli Government decision in September to allow its occupying forces the use of lethal weapons with live ammunition against civilians;

2. “Unprecedented warmongering and the culture of hate and racism among extreme groups in Israel who are now in the government”;

3. Impunity and absence of accountability for the deaths Israel causes – “Not one perpetrator has been brought to justice, including the Jewish settler terrorist group who burned the house of the Dawabsheh family, causing the death of the parents and their 18-month-old baby. Shortly after this terrorist attack, the Israeli Defence Minister announced that he knows the group who committed the crime but for 'national security reasons' decided not to take action.”

Fatah continued:

“The Israeli Government continues to claim that all its actions are motivated by security. In reality, it is Palestinians who need security and protection the most.

“We are the only nation in the history of mankind where the occupier continues to demand protection from the victim.

“We call upon you, our friends and allies, to take action to stop the Israeli Army and colonial settlers' attacks on Palestinians and invasion of the holy places, including Al-Aqsa Mosque.

“Please cry out for a halt to Israeli targeting of our children.

“Call for an end to Israeli siege of Palestinian towns and villages of the West Bank and Gaza.

“Call for an end to the Israeli settlement project on the Palestinian territories.

“These are immediate measures needed to stop the escalation.

“For longer-term measures, we need international protection, an embargo on all military exports to Israel, and a ban on the trade of illegal settlement products.

“Finally, it is time that the international community mobilises all efforts to end the Israeli occupation of our land and moves seriously to achieve real peace in the Middle East.”