Paris, 17 July 2006 - The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) informed by its member and partner organisations in Lebanon, the Lebanese Association for Human Rights (ALDHOM), the Foundation for Human Rights and Humanitarian Rights in Lebanon (FHHRL) and Support for Lebanese Detained Arbitrarily (SOLIDA) expresses its utmost concern about the escalation of heavy military operations and their worrying humanitarian consequences for civilians in Lebanon and Northern Israel. Following the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hizbullah on the Israeli side of the Lebanese-Israeli border on 12 July 2006, Israel has repeatedly struck Lebanese targets in the past few days. In response to the Israeli strikes, Hizbullah fired rockets at northern Israeli cities, leading to the death of at least 8 people in Haifa on 16 July. The Israeli authorities announced that the air strikes mostly target the Lebanese areas in which « Hizbullah is present and active ». The main Lebanese infrastructures have been hit including the international airport in Beirut, all major roads and bridges in South Lebanon in particular as well as Lebanon's main harbours at Beirut and Jounieh and a water plant in the Southern city of Yarin. Several roads have been cut leaving many areas completely isolated. The relief organisations located in Lebanon are largely unable to provide assistance to these populations. The country is progressively being blockaded and several Lebanese and international humanitarian institutions already expressed concerns over local food distribution and the lack of adequate medical supplies in some areas. As of today, the Israeli bombings reportedly killed nearly 170 people, most of them were civilians established in the South of the country. And as a result of continuous strikes on South Lebanon and suburbs of Beirut, hundreds of people have been displaced mainly from the South of the country and the targeted suburbs of Beirut. Most of them are gathered in schools or streets in the Lebanese capital and face severe difficulties. The FIDH fears the development of a humanitarian crisis amongst the most vulnerable populations in Lebanon. The FIDH severely condemns the rocket firing by Hizbullah against Israeli civilian population. Furthermore, the FIDH calls on Hizbullah to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) or other impartial observers to examine and monitor the health of the two Israeli detained soldiers and urges Hizbullah to uphold the rights of the prisoners to a humane and non-degrading treatment until a swift and peaceful solution is found. The FIDH considers that the attacks carried out by the Israeli forces which resulted in the killings of civilians and the destruction of major Lebanese infrastructures which violate the international humanitarian law provisions are disproportionate and constitute a collective punishment in violation of Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The FIDH recalls that the killing of civilian constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law according to Article 3 of the Fourth Geneva Convention and condemns all actions that target or unduly endanger civilian populations. The FIDH calls upon the Israeli government to urgently put an end to the military operations carried out in Lebanon. The FIDH calls therefore upon the Security Council to adopt a resolution for that purpose and to take all the necessary measures to ensure the protection of Lebanese civilian populations and to guarantee the sovereignty of the Lebanese State. Press Contact : Gaël Grilhot : +33-1 43 55 90 19* Marie Camberlin FIDH Chargée de programme/ Program Officer Afrique du Nord et Moyen Orient Middle East and North Africa Tel.: 33(0)1 43 55 34 97 Fax: 33(0)1 43 55 18 80 17, passage de la main d'or 75011 Paris France http://www.fidh.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Sign and Forward "Save the Lebanese Civilians Petition" Please go to http://julywar.epetition.net and sign the Save the Lebanese Civilians Petition and forward this invitation to your friends.
Lebanese civilians have been under the constant attack of the state of Israel for several days. The State of Israel, in disregard to international law and the Geneva Convention, is launching a maritime and air siege targeting the entire population of the country. Innocent civilians are being collectively punished in Lebanon by the state of Israel in deliberate acts of terrorism as described in Article 33 of the Geneva Convention. http://julywar.epetition.net ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Council of Europe statement on Middle East Terry Davis has announced the Israeli actions in Lebanon `inappropriate and counterproductive'. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have also seen clear violations of humanitarian law. https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1019627&BackColorInternet=F5CA75&BackColorIntranet=F5CA75&BackColorLogged=A9BACE ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Something is new at Yahoo! Groups. Check out the enhanced email design. http://us.click.yahoo.com/SISQkA/gOaOAA/yQLSAA/RR.olB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> *** sustineti [romania_eu_list] prin 2% din impozitul pe 2005 - detalii la http://www.doilasuta.ro *** Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romania_eu_list/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
