Following reports on disproportionate and indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian locations carried out by the military as part of Operation Protective Edge, ten human rights organizations working in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, among them HaMoked, sent a joint
letter today, July 21, 2014, to the Attorney General.
The organizations point out that the information thus far received on the nature of the attacks and the civilian casualty ratio, raises concerns about grave violations of international humanitarian law, and in particular, the laws of war and the principle of distinguishing between combatants and civilians, and legitimate and illegitimate targets.
The organizations emphasize that the actions of Hamas in violation of international humanitarian law do not exempt Israel from its duties under international law, and call on the Attorney General to establish an external, independent and effective investigatory mechanism to examine the decisions and guidelines of the political and operational establishment on Israel's rules of engagement.
