5 May 2018
Update: The World Health Organization (WHO) has since stated that 2,051 Palestinians were injured by Israeli forces on 4 May. 586 were treated at Ministry of Health hospitals and clinics, including 129 with gunshot wounds.
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) is deeply dismayed by the continuing injuries in Gaza due to the use of live ammunition, rubber bullets and tear gas by Israeli forces targeting Palestinian demonstrators.
Yesterday casualties were again reported on the sixth Friday of the Great March of Return protest in Gaza. According to the Ministry of Health, 1,400 people were injured, including 149 children. Of the injured, 83 had suffered gunshot wounds. This was the first Friday since protests began with no reported deaths.
The Ministry of Health reported that the work of medical workers was seriously disrupted by Israeli forces "intensively targeting the medical point[s]" with teargas in a number of locations in the east of Gaza. The Ministry has urged humanitarian organizations and UN officials to provide full protection for medical teams working at the medical points in Gaza.
Since 30 March, 40 Palestinians have been killed at the demonstrations and more than 7,900 injured, including 689 children, many with devastating gunshot wounds to their legs. There have been no reported injuries to ISraelis
In a statement released last week, Amnesty International has echoed concerns raised by MAP about the severity of the injuries being inflicted on Palestinian protesters. Amnesty reported that doctors at the European and Shifa hospitals in Gaza City verified that “many of the serious injuries they have witnessed are to the lower limbs, including the knees, which are typical of war wounds that they have not observed since the 2014 Gaza conflict."
“Many have suffered extreme bone and tissue damage, as well as large exit wounds measuring between 10 and 15mm, and will likely face further complications, infections and some form of physical disability, such as paralysis or amputation. Reports of the high number of injuries to the knees, which increase the probability of bullet fragmentation, are particularly disturbing. If true, they would suggest that the Israeli army is intentionally intending to inflict life-changing injuries.”
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International calls for independent investigation into Israel’s use of force against protesters, and accountability for violations of international law in Gaza, have continued to grow.
Last week, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said: “Every country has the primary human rights obligation to ensure that all loss of life and serious injury is investigated and those responsible held to account under the criminal law. Any investigations into the events in Gaza must fulfil this purpose.” Zeid further noted, however, that “Israel’s failure to consistently prosecute violations committed by members of its security forces encourages them to use deadly force against their fellow unarmed human beings, even when they present no threat.”
Last week, Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt responded to a question tabled by Dan Carden MP, who recently visited the West Bank with Caabu and MAP, about the UK’s support for independent investigation, and stated the UK is “supportive of accountability and transparency, and welcome Israel’s commitment to investigate the conduct of operations. We urge that the findings of this investigation be made public, and that, if wrongdoing is found, those responsible be held to account.”
This week the Minister for the Middle East, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, expanded on this, stating “given the importance of accountability, we are supportive of an independent and transparent investigation. We therefore welcome Israel's commitment to investigate the conduct of operations.”
Though UK support for investigation and accountability is welcome, concerns have been repeatedly raised about Israel’s willingness to conduct credible and independent investigations. After Israel’s 2014 military assault on Gaza, the UN Commission of Inquiry established to investigate it warned that “Israel must break with its lamentable track record in holding wrong doers accountable.”
Similarly, reacting to Israel’s use of force against protesters since 30 March, six independent UN Human Rights experts, including UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory Prof Michael Lynk, said: “While Israel’s announcement that it will launch a probe is welcome, we are concerned that the planned probe may lack the independence, impartiality and effectiveness required by the international law … Coupled with reports that some Israeli officials have suggested the purpose of the investigation is to avoid scrutiny from the international community and the ICC, we believe an independent investigation is the only way to truly address what has happened in Gaza, and to prevent its recurrence.”
MAP repeats its call to the UK Government and the international community to ensure international law is stringently adhered to in the occupied Palestinian territory, that potential violations are credibly and independently investigated, and that where wrongdoing is found those responsible are held to account.
