19.03.2009

HaMoked and other human rights organizations launch an urgent appeal to the Prime Minister, the Defense Minister, the Minister of the Interior and the Attorney General: Refrain from collective punishment of the civilian population in Gaza as a means of exerting political pressure to advance the cause of Gilad Shalit

In a letter dated 19 March 2009, the organizations stress their concern in light of the government's decision to convene a ministerial committee to examine measures required for advancing Gilad Shalit’s release. According to various statements made in the media, the committee is considering a further tightening of the economic siege on Gaza by imposing greater limitations on the movement of wares, as well as the possibility of downgrading the incarceration conditions of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. The organizations warn that causing further harm to the civilian population of Gaza, which is already in a state of catastrophe, would cause grave and unnecessary suffering to hundreds of thousands of innocents. In the letter, the organizations stress that the measures being considered, which are aimed at exerting political pressure on Hamas to release Gilad Shalit, constitute collective punishment of the civilian population in Gaza. These measures are unlawful and prohibited, both under international humanitarian law and Israeli law.

To view the organizations' letter dated 19 March 2009