ID :
39515
Thu, 01/08/2009 - 13:01
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/39515
The shortlink copeid
Gaza refugees have the right to seek safety and asylum
New York, Jan 8, 2009 (WAM) - Rupert Colville of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said that OHCHR endorsed the call by the High Commissioner for Refugees to allow people to seek safety and asylum.
Colville said that was a fundamental human right. Normally in a conflict situation people could at least think of fleeing, but in Gaza the civilian population was "bottled in" on all sides.
OHCHR condemned rocket attacks by Hamas that had led to the deaths of a number of Israeli civilians. Indiscriminate targeting of civilian areas was clearly prohibited under international law. OHCHR also strongly condemned Israel's disproportionate use of force, which had resulted in the reported death of more than 560 people, including a large number of civilians - children, journalists, ambulance workers, police officers, students and others. Such acts were prohibited. In a highly populated area, one had to err on the side of caution. The protection of civilians was paramount under international law.
The use of disproportionate force by Israel and the lack of regard for the lives of civilians by both Israel and Hamas could not be justified by the actions of the other side. They constituted clear violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.
Another key issue was access, Mr. Colville stressed. It was hard to be sure what was going on right now in Gaza. "It is extremely important that not just humanitarian, human rights and medical personnel are able to go in, but also the media". They would clearly all benefit if there was more information coming out of Gaza Strip as to what precisely was going on.
Colville said that was a fundamental human right. Normally in a conflict situation people could at least think of fleeing, but in Gaza the civilian population was "bottled in" on all sides.
OHCHR condemned rocket attacks by Hamas that had led to the deaths of a number of Israeli civilians. Indiscriminate targeting of civilian areas was clearly prohibited under international law. OHCHR also strongly condemned Israel's disproportionate use of force, which had resulted in the reported death of more than 560 people, including a large number of civilians - children, journalists, ambulance workers, police officers, students and others. Such acts were prohibited. In a highly populated area, one had to err on the side of caution. The protection of civilians was paramount under international law.
The use of disproportionate force by Israel and the lack of regard for the lives of civilians by both Israel and Hamas could not be justified by the actions of the other side. They constituted clear violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.
Another key issue was access, Mr. Colville stressed. It was hard to be sure what was going on right now in Gaza. "It is extremely important that not just humanitarian, human rights and medical personnel are able to go in, but also the media". They would clearly all benefit if there was more information coming out of Gaza Strip as to what precisely was going on.
