'Israel' must end occupation of Palestine to stop apartheid: Amnesty

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Amnesty International
19 Feb 2024 14:26

Amnesty International reports on the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine, stressing the ongoing violations of international law.

Palestinians line up for a free meal in Rafah, Gaza Strip, on February 16, 2024. (AP)

In a report published on Monday, Amnesty International asserts that "Israel" must cease its brutal occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, including occupied east al-Quds, which has persisted since 1967. This statement comes as public hearings commence at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to decide the legal ramifications of "Israel's" prolonged occupation.

'The world must recognize that ending Israel’s illegal occupation is a prerequisite to stopping the recurrent human rights violations in Israel and the OPT.'

- Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General

“Israel’s occupation of Palestine is the longest and one of the most deadly military occupations in the world. For decades it has been characterised by widespread and systematic human rights violations against Palestinians. The occupation has also enabled and entrenched the Israeli system of apartheid imposed on Palestinians,” said Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.

She added, “Over the years, Israel’s military occupation has evolved into a perpetual occupation in flagrant violation of international law."

Callamard stressed that “The current conflict raging in the occupied Gaza Strip, where the ICJ has ruled there is a real and imminent risk of genocide, has brought into sharp focus the catastrophic consequences of allowing Israel’s international crimes in the OPT to continue with impunity for so long," adding that the world must recognize that ending the illegal Israeli occupation is considered a prerequisite to ending the ongoing human rights violations in "Israel" and occupied Palestinian territories.

Never-ending occupation

According to international humanitarian law, the occupation of a territory during a conflict or war should be temporary. The occupation power is obligated to administer the territory in the best interest of the occupied population, striving to maintain the situation as it was at the start of the occupation. This includes respecting existing laws, refraining from making demographic changes, and preserving the territorial integrity of the occupied territory.

In light of these principles of international humanitarian law, the Israeli occupation has failed to adhere to basic standards. The occupation's prolonged duration, exceeding half a century, along with the illegal official annexation of occupied east al-Quds and de facto annexation of significant portions of the West Bank through land confiscation and settlement expansion, indicate the Israeli intention for the occupation to be permanent, serving the occupation's interests.

Palestinians under occupation

Palestinians living under Israeli occupation endure human rights violations, perpetuated by an institutionalized regime of systematic domination and oppression.

The discriminatory and repressive laws, ostensibly implemented under the guise of the occupation, effectively further the objectives of the Israeli apartheid system. These laws have fragmented and segregated Palestinians throughout the occupied territories, while unlawfully exploiting their resources, arbitrarily restricting their rights and freedoms, and exerting control over nearly every aspect of their lives.

Palestinians have been suffering for years, not only during the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza. Palestinians in Gaza have endured numerous Israeli military offensives, with at least six occurring between 2008 and 2023.

Additionally, they face an enduring land, air, and sea blockade. Throughout these offensives, Amnesty International reported that it has documented a recurring pattern of unlawful attacks, constituting war crimes and even crimes against humanity. Moreover, the enduring blockade constitutes collective punishment, also classified as a war crime.

For 56 years Palestinians in the OPT have been living trapped and oppressed under Israel’s brutal occupation, subjected to systemic discrimination.

-Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General

Israeli aggression in the West Bank

The Amnesty report highlights that in the West Bank, including occupied East al-Quds, Palestinians regularly encounter excessive use of force, unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests, administrative detention, forced displacement, home demolitions, land confiscations, and denial of fundamental rights and freedoms.

The Israeli multi-layered closure system, bolstered by extensive surveillance, physical barriers, and legal restrictions, such as an illegal wall/fence, hundreds of checkpoints and roadblocks, and an arbitrary permit regime, severely restricts Palestinians' freedom of movement.