The Palestinian population of the Gaza Strip continues to be barred from entering Israel following the killing of an Israeli civilian by a Palestinian in Bat Yam near Tel Aviv on 28 May 1992.
“While we condemn all forms of violence perpetrated against innocent civilians, this measure against the residents of Gaza is yet another form of collective punishment which has characterized the Israeli policies during the last 25 years of occupation”, said ICJ Secretary-General Adama Dieng.
As the Israeli occupation to the West Bank and Gaza enters tomorrow its 25th. year and peace negotiations proceed, the human rights situation in the occupied territories continues to deteriorate. For many years, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has been voicing its concern over a number of illegal Israeli measures in the West Bank and Gaza which violate the provisions of the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilians in Times of War. These violations include: the annexation of East Jerusalem; the alienation of land for the use of Israeli settlements; illegal alterations in the legal system; the imposition of illegal taxation; the closure of universities and other educational institutions; and the denial of family reunification. This is in addition to deportation, administrative detention, torture, house demolition, prolonged curfews and other forms of illegal punishments.
In this respect, the ICJ wishes to remind States signatories to the Fourth Geneva Convention of their obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to respect and ensure respect of its provisions.
Despite clear Security Council Resolutions (242 & 338) calling on Israel to withdraw from the West Bank and Gaza, the occupation continues until today without serious effort from the international community for a speedy end of the suffering of the occupied population.
On the occasion of 25th. anniversary of the Israeli occupation, the International Commission of Jurists calls for the immediate implementation of these resolutions.