A UN inquiry accuses the Israeli army of targeting schools and civilians in the Gaza Strip. Prof. Sabella, a Catholic, speaks of overstepping the "red line" and the guilty must be brought to justice. The task of judging handed to an "independent UN body". Meanwhile, Israel continues its policy of settlements, undermining "prospects" for peace.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews) - "The story revolves around the concept of the primary responsibilities: there is a red line that cannot be overstepped, even in the event of war. When you target civilian institutions, such as schools and hospitals, there are no laws or justification to cling to". These are the comments of  Prof. Bernard Sabella, a Catholic, Fatah representative for Jerusalem and Executive Secretary of the service to the Palestinian refugees of the Council of Churches of the Middle East. He was speaking to AsiaNews about the recent damning UN report of Israel.

Yesterday, the United Nations published its inquiry which states that the Israeli army was responsible for seven attacks on UN schools in Gaza. The Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was "sorry" for the death of 44 Palestinians and the injury of 227 others and commented that the report’s findings were "very serious".

Called "Operation Margin Protecter”, the campaign launched by Israel in the Gaza Strip to stop the rocket attacks on its territory began on July 8, 2014 and ended August 26, 2014. The violence caused 2,200 casualties among the Palestinians (including 1,500 civilians) and 73 deaths on the Israeli side, 67 of them among the soldiers. At least 11 thousand people were wounded, most of them on the Palestinian front, 70% of which were civilians. Over 500 children died in the conflict.

Interviewed by AsiaNews, Prof Sabella said that "it is the responsibility" of the warring parties "not to target civilians," and if it happens, "there are no laws or excuses to cling to". "We are facing a serious offense - says the Catholic Palestinian leader - recognized by an international body like the UN. It is natural that those responsible should be brought to justice; the principle of responsibility must be true for individuals, for organizations, for the terrorists of the Islamic State, and nations. "

The UN report also shows that the schools were used by Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip as storage for weapons and ammunition and civilians, in some cases, were exploited as human shields. Israel has also opened an internal investigation and ensures that it will punish the perpetrators of the attacks on UN facilities in Gaza. However, according to the Catholic representative of Fatah there can be no justification whatsoever and it is important that, in addition to an international survey, now there is also "an independent body" called to judge these crimes.

"It is the UN that must conduct a trial and judge it- adds Professor. Sabella - because they have prepared a report and can now draw the consequences. If you make war, you have to respond to international laws. You cannot target civilians on the other side if this is to protect your soldiers, as Israel does".

Also yesterday, the NGO Peace Now published the news on the go-ahead of the Israeli authorities for the construction of 77 new settlements in Pisgat Zeev and Neve Yaakov, near East Jerusalem. This is the first public announcement of the construction since the Israeli elections last month and a confirmation of the expansionist policy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud party.

For years the peace talks between Israel and Palestine have been stranded with the Palestinian Authority because of the question of the failure of Tel Aviv to adhere to a settlement freeze in the occupied territories. At present there are about 500 thousand Israelis settled between East Jerusalem and the West Bank. The presence of these colonies, illegal under international law, breaks the territorial continuity and the link between the Palestinian Territories and East Jerusalem, making the establishment of a Palestinian state difficult, if not impossible.

"This is a clear indication - says Prof. Sabella – of how Israel continues to pursue its old politics. There is no hope on the horizon for the two-state solution; as long as lawmakers continue the policy of settlements there can never be peace. " And if a clear agreement is not reached, concludes the Catholic member of Fatah, "this means that there will be more wars, and there will be more and more civilians killed on both sides. It is our responsibility to stop the conflict and work for a peaceful solution, otherwise we will lose everything in the Holy Land. "(DS)

 

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