[NGO Monitor ] On May 13, 2008, Human Rights Watch published on open letter to President Bush charging that Israel's restrictions on the flow of goods and services into Gaza "constitute[s] collective punishment against the civilian population, a serious violation of international humanitarian law." Restriction on the flow of goods in a war environment does not constitute "collective punishment" under international law. "Collective punishment" does not refer to the legal act of retorsion (e.g., sanctions, blockades). Pursuant to Article 23 of the Geneva Convention (which sets standards for the provision of limited humanitarian aid), Israel has no obligation to provide any goods, even minimal humanitarian supplies, if it is "satisfied" that such goods will be diverted or supply of such goods will aid Hamas in its war effort. Despite attacks on the Israeli border crossings, including the April 9 attack on the Nahal Oz fuel depot and the May 22 truck bomb attack at the Erez crossing, Israel continues to provide hundreds of tons of humanitarian supplies to Gaza on a weekly basis - above and beyond any obligation under international law.
2008-06-18 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive