On June 13th 2010, Reuters reports that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that the Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip violates the Geneva Conventions and called for its lifting.
"The whole of Gaza's civilian population is being punished for acts for which they bear no responsibility. The closure therefore constitutes a collective punishment imposed in clear violation of Israel's obligations under international humanitarian law," the ICRC said in a five-page statement.
It was the first time the ICRC has said explicitly that Israel's blockade constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law embodied in the Geneva Conventions, an ICRC spokeswoman said. The Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, ratified by Israel, bans collective punishment of a civilian population.
"We are urging Israel to put an end to this closure and call upon all those who have an influence on the situation, including Hamas, to do their utmost to help Gaza's civilian population," said Beatrice Megevand-Roggo, head of ICRC operations for the Middle East.
"Under international humanitarian law, Israel must ensure that the basic needs of Gazans, including adequate health care, are met," the ICRC said.
The blockade, about to enter its fourth year, was "choking off any real possibility of economic development," it said.
"The Palestinian authorities ... must do everything within their power to provide proper health care, supply electricity and maintain infrastructure for Gaza's people," it added.
"The state of the health care system in Gaza has never been worse," said ICRC health coordinator Eileen Daly. "Health is being politicized: that is the main reason the system is failing."
Israel will not care about any voice which criticises them because they know that they will get away with anything since they are getting the support from America. Even in the United Nations, America will veto any decision or the voices that wants to boycott Israel or take Israel to the International Criminal Court. That is for sure.
Even the flotilla that was on its way to deliver humanitarian aids was attacked by the Israeli commandos which costs the lives of 9 Turkish volunteers whom they accuse to be terrorists.
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Say whatever that is on your mind. Heck! This is a free country after all. If the racists Chinese can swear at the Malays as much as they want, we can do that as well.
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