Prendo spunto da una recente sentenza della Corte Suprema di Israele del 5 luglio scorso; è opportuna, però, una premessa.

Giustamente, a proposito del conflitto in corso in Ucraina, è unanime la condanna dell’alto numero di vittime civili, soprattutto se bambini/e. Il diritto internazionale ed in particolare la IV Convenzione di Ginevra tutelano i civili che non dovrebbero essere mai coinvolti nei conflitti, men che meno esserne vittime. Laddove accade, quantomeno dovrebbero essere accertate eventuali responsabilità e garantito un risarcimento del danno. In Ucraina si sono già svolti processi avanti a tribunali ordinari ed è operativa una squadra investigativa della Corte penale internazionale ( per inciso: con inusuale solerzia, senza neppure attendere l’esaurimento dell’iter giudiziario nazionale).

In Israele mai è intervenuta condanna di soldati o coloni per le uccisioni di palestinesi o attivisti internazionali. La Corte penale internazionale è minacciata e ostacolata nella sua attività di indagine.

La sentenza del 5 luglio scorso della Corte Suprema conferma quanto già stabilito in primo grado dal tribunale di Beer Sheba nel 2018 ( la lentezza della giustizia non è prerogativa solo italiana!) e cioè che la vittima, se residente nella Striscia di Gaza, non ha diritto al risarcimento. Il caso è emblematico perché riguarda un ragazzo di 15 anni, Attiya Nabaheen, diventato tetraplegico perché colpito da proiettili israeliani mentre era nel terreno prospiciente la sua casa vicino ad Al-Bureji. Il fatto risale al 2014 durante l’eccidio denominato “ Margine protettivo”.

Otto anni dopo la giustizia israeliana sancisce che il ragazzo e la sua famiglia non hanno diritto ad alcun risarcimento perché……..residenti a Gaza.

Il supporto legale è fornito da una legge del 1952, reintrodotta nel 2012, sulla responsabilità dello Stato ( legge sui torti civili) che prescrive che i residenti in un territorio dichiarato dal governo israeliano “ territorio nemico” non hanno diritto a risarcimenti. Gaza è stata dichiarata “territorio nemico” nel 2007 subito dopo il ritiro dei coloni nel 2006. In altre parole, i gazawi sono in ogni caso responsabili di quanto gli accade per il solo fatto di essere lì, magari da generazioni oppure perché profughi da altre zone della Palestina. La legge rappresenta un unicum nel panorama internazionale perché lega conseguenze negative non alla condotta della persona ma al dato neutro della residenza. La qualifica di “nemico”, e come tale potenziale legittimo obiettivo, discende dal risiedere in territorio nemico. Ecco perché nessun gazawi, neppure le bambine e i bambini uccisi nei giorni scorsi, avrà mai un risarcimento.

Un passaggio della sentenza è particolarmente interessante nella sua franchezza e spregiudicatezza. Sostiene la Corte che la legge non è contraria al diritto internazionale ma se anche lo fosse la Knesset ha il potere di annullare il diritto internazionale. Ed ancora: la ratio della norma risiede nella deliberata volontà di danneggiare il nemico che non deve trarre alcun profitto dalla condotta,( anche se criminale, ndr) dello Stato di Israele.

La Knesset, quindi, organo politico per eccellenza, persegue una esplicita finalità politica e legifera in modo da ottenere il risultato voluto anche in spregio delle più elementari regole di diritto internazionale.

Attiya è dal 2014 su una sedia a rotelle, colpevole solo di risiedere a casa sua nella Striscia di Gaza. I media non hanno mai parlato di lui così come nulla hanno detto dei 15 bambini uccisi nei giorni scorsi. Hanno riportato il numero, qualcuno accreditando la versione israeliana per cui sarebbero rimasti vittime dei razzi palestinesi. L’asservimento della quasi totalità degli organi di informazione alla propaganda sionista ha raggiunto anche in questa occasione livelli inimmaginabili. Così Israele è libero di bombardare Gaza perché unilateralmente dichiarato “territorio nemico”, è libero di affermare con legge che garantisce il diritto all’autodeterminazione solo alla popolazione di religione ebraica, è libero di affermare, in sentenze e non solo, che il diritto internazionale non lo riguarda. Eppure è costante il ritornello per cui “ è l’unica democrazia del medio oriente”.

A Gaza nei giorni scorsi, sotto le bombe, qualcuno ha affisso un manifesto rivolto agli europei con la scritta: “Sino a quando dovremo pagare le vostre colpe ?”.

Legittima la domanda, difficile la risposta.

8 agosto 2022 Ugo Giannangeli

I take my cue from a recent sentence of the Supreme Court of Israel of last July
5; however, a premise is appropriate.
With regard to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the condemnation of the high
number of civilian victims, especially children, is rightly unanimous.
International law and in particular the IV Geneva Convention protect civilians
who should never be involved in conflicts, let alone be victims of them. Where
this happens, at least any liability should be ascertained and compensation for
damages guaranteed. In Ukraine, trials have already taken place before ordinary
courts and an investigative team of the International Criminal Court is
operational (by the way: with unusual diligence, without even waiting for the
national judicial process to be exhausted).
Israel has never condemned soldiers or settlers for the killings of Palestinians
or international activists. The International Criminal Court is threatened and
hindered in its investigation.
The decision of the Supreme Court of 5 July confirms what was already
established in the first instance by the Beer Sheba court in 2018 (the slowness
of justice is not only an Italian prerogative!) And that is that the victim, if
resident in the Gaza Strip, has not right to compensation. The case is
emblematic because it concerns a 15-year-old boy, Attiya Nabaheen, who became a
quadriplegic after being hit by Israeli bullets while he was on the ground
overlooking his house near Al-Bureji. The fact dates back to 2014 during the
massacre called "Protective margin".
Eight years later the Israeli justice establishes that the boy and his family
are not entitled to any compensation because ……Resident in Gaza.
Legal support is provided by a 1952 law, reintroduced in 2012, on State
Liability (Civil Wrong Act) which requires that residents in a territory
declared by the Israeli government "enemy territory" are not entitled to
compensation. Gaza was declared "enemy territory" in 2007 immediately after the
withdrawal of the settlers in 2006. In other words, the Gazans are in any case
responsible for what happens to them simply by being there, perhaps for
generations or because they are refugees from others areas of Palestine.
The law is unique on the international scene because it links negative
consequences not to the conduct of the person but to the neutral data of
residence. The qualification of "enemy", and as such a potential legitimate
target, derives from residing in enemy territory. That's why no Gazaw, not even
the girls and boys killed in recent days, will ever get compensation
A passage of the sentence is particularly interesting in its frankness and
unscrupulousness. The Court argues that the law is not contrary to international
law but even if it were, the Knesset has the power to overrule international
law. And again: the rationale of the law resides in the deliberate will to
damage the enemy who must not derive any profit from the conduct, (even if
criminal, ed) of the State of Israel.
The Knesset, therefore, the political body par excellence, pursues an explicit
political and legislative purpose in order to obtain the desired result even in
disregard of the most elementary rules of international law.
Attiya has been in a wheelchair since 2014, guilty only of residing in his home
in the Gaza Strip. The media have never talked about him as they have said
nothing about the 15 children killed in recent days. They reported the number,
some crediting the Israeli version that they would have been victims of
Palestinian rockets. The enslavement of almost all the media to the Zionist
propaganda reached unimaginable levels on this occasion as well. Thus Israel is
free to bomb Gaza because unilaterally declared "enemy territory", it is free to
affirm with a law that guarantees the right to self-determination only for the
Jewish population, it is free to affirm, in judgments and not only, that
international law it does not concern him. Yet the refrain that "it is the only
democracy in the Middle East" is constant.
In Gaza in recent days, under the bombs, someone has posted a poster addressed
to Europeans with the inscription: "Until when will we have to pay your sins?".
The question is legitimate, the answer difficult.
8 August 2022 Ugo Giannangeli

Date: Tue, Aug 9, 2022 at 10:46 PM

ECCP-ASBL (Belgian non-profit organization) – Head Office: Rue Stévin, 115 -1000-Bruxelles

Tel: + 32 (0) 2 230 28 48 – Fax: + 32 (0) 2 231 01 74 – Email: eccp.brussels@gmail.com

Brussels, August 9^th, 2022

Dear HRVP Josep Borrell,

Re : The new attack by Israel on Gaza: time for the EU to take action

At this time of writing to you, there is a fragile ceasefire following the new military attack by Israel on Gaza. This is the 5^th time a massive and disproportionate attack has been carried out on a besieged population of 2 million people in 15 years.

Israel calls it a pre-emptive attack against an imminent threat. There is no way that this can be justified as a defence. It is a brutal, illegal war of aggression against an occupied people.

We all know what happens when an army equipped with the most advanced technology in the world attacks a densely over-populated area with no means of escape. We have all witnessed the disproportionate loss of life and staggering material destruction inflicted upon people whose lives already hang on a thread after 15 years of blockade. This time Israel closed the Gaza border completely for 6 days, resulting in a total shutdown of the only power plant: No electricity, no adequate supply of drinkable water, hospitals under threat of closure due to the depletion of medical stocks and power, leaving them unable to function. This military operation is cutting the last lifeline in Gaza, which has already suffered 15 years of collective punishment. This is one more example of the Israeli strategy of torturing and depriving Gaza’s residents of their basic needs. It is a way of killing their society. This time Europe has no excuse for standing by.

The international community, including the EU, has a responsibility to protect civilians, since Israel as the occupying power not only fails to do so but also is waging a war of aggression against them. You know very well that calling for restraint has never worked. You are also aware that the inaction of the international community has emboldened Israel to continue to commit war crimes. This time the EU must act. The EU should impose sanctions (military embargo and suspension of the Association Agreement) demanding Israel stop all its aggression on Gaza immediately. As the largest trade partner of Israel, the EU has strong diplomatic tools with which it can exert pressure on Israel. Any delay in doing so will increase the suffering of the people and contribute to further destabilization of the region.

Besides the obligations arising from international law, Europe has a historic responsibility for the current drama in the region. The EU and the international community must end their double standards and complicity with Israel. It is high time to impose sanctions on Israel, to force it to lift the blockade of Gaza unconditionally and to cease all violations of human rights and international law.

We trust you will treat our concerns with the utmost seriousness and urgency.

Yours sincerely,

Michel LEGRAND

President of ECCP

Signed Letter :

Gentile HRVP Josep Borrell,
Re: Il nuovo attacco di Israele a Gaza: è tempo che l'UE agisca
In questo momento in cui vi scrivo, c'è un fragile cessate il fuoco a seguito del nuovo attacco
militare di Israele a Gaza. Questa è la quinta volta che un attacco massiccio e sproporzionato
viene effettuato su una popolazione assediata di 2 milioni di persone in 15 anni.
Israele lo definisce un attacco preventivo contro una minaccia imminente. Non c'è modo
che questo possa essere giustificato come una difesa. È una guerra di aggressione brutale e
illegale contro un popolo occupato.
Sappiamo tutti cosa succede quando un esercito dotato della tecnologia più avanzata del
mondo attacca un'area densamente sovrappopolata senza vie di fuga. Abbiamo tutti
assistito alla sproporzionata perdita di vite umane e all'incredibile distruzione materiale
inflitta a persone le cui vite sono già appese a un filo dopo 15 anni di blocco. Questa volta
Israele ha chiuso completamente il confine di Gaza per 6 giorni, provocando la chiusura
totale dell'unica centrale elettrica: nessuna elettricità, nessuna fornitura adeguata di acqua
potabile, ospedali minacciati di chiusura a causa dell'esaurimento delle scorte mediche e
dell'elettricità, lasciandoli incapace di funzionare. Questa operazione militare sta tagliando
l'ultima ancora di salvezza a Gaza, che ha già subito 15 anni di punizioni collettive. Questo è
un altro esempio della strategia israeliana di torturare e privare i residenti di Gaza dei loro
bisogni primari. È un modo per uccidere la loro società. Questa volta l'Europa non ha scuse
per restare a guardare.
La comunità internazionale, compresa l'UE, ha la responsabilità di proteggere i civili, poiché
Israele, in quanto potenza occupante, non solo non riesce a farlo, ma sta anche conducendo
una guerra di aggressione contro di loro. Sai benissimo che chiedere moderazione non ha
mai funzionato. Siete anche consapevoli che l'inerzia della comunità internazionale ha
incoraggiato Israele a continuare a commettere crimini di guerra. Questa volta l'UE deve
agire. L'UE dovrebbe imporre sanzioni (embargo militare e sospensione dell'accordo di
associazione) chiedendo a Israele di fermare immediatamente tutta la sua aggressione a
Gaza. In quanto principale partner commerciale di Israele, l'UE dispone di solidi strumenti
diplomatici con i quali può esercitare pressioni su Israele. Qualsiasi ritardo nel farlo
aumenterà la sofferenza delle persone e contribuirà a un'ulteriore destabilizzazione della
regione.
20220809_ Lt all'HRVP Josep Borrell: Il nuovo attacco di Israele a Gaza: è tempo che l'UE
agisca – Pagina 1 di 2
Bruxelles, 9 agosto 2022
Oltre agli obblighi derivanti dal diritto internazionale, l'Europa ha una responsabilità storica
per l'attuale dramma nella regione. L'UE e la comunità internazionale devono porre fine ai
loro doppi standard e alla loro complicità con Israele. È giunto il momento di imporre
sanzioni a Israele, di costringerlo a revocare incondizionatamente il blocco di Gaza e di porre
fine a tutte le violazioni dei diritti umani e del diritto internazionale.
Confidiamo che tratterete le nostre preoccupazioni con la massima serietà e urgenza.
Cordiali saluti,
Michel LEGRAND Presidente dell'ECCP

18:00, 8 August 2022

Destruction following the Israeli airstrike during the escalation in August 2022. © Photo by OCHA

Gaza City – Amina Ashkinan’s grandchildren were playing in front of their house at Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday when an Israeli strike came from the sky.

Her granddaughter, 10-year-old Mayar, was hit by shrapnel in the abdomen. Her grandson, nine-year-old Ahmed, got injuries all over his body. Both children were rushed to Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City, just two of the dozens of Palestinians to be transported to the main hospital in the Gaza Strip during Israel’s latest bombardment of the besieged enclave.

Mayar was immediately taken to the operation room. Her condition, along with that of her brother, has since stabilised but Ashkinan is still worried.

For days, Palestinian health officials had been issuing warnings of an imminent stop in the provision of medical services due to the lack of fuel needed to operate the electricity generators in hospitals and health facilities across Gaza. The Strip’s only power plant had shut down on Saturday, days after Israel stopped the planned transport of fuel into the territory.

“The situation is so sad and unimaginable,” Ashkinan, 65, said at the hospital. “No human being can bear what we bear – from the war going on against us, the defenceless civilians, or from the constant power cuts or the running out of fuel?

“What is our fault, and what is the fault of our children, for all this to happen to them?”

‘A real catastrophe’

At least 15 children were among the 44 people killed in the Gaza Strip in three days of Israeli bombardment, according to Palestinian health ministry officials. Late on Sunday, Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad armed group declared a truce that appeared to be holding on Monday morning.

Mohammad Abu Salmiya, Shifa’s director, said the collapse of the health sector was an inevitable result of the 15-year Israeli blockade imposed on the Strip.

Now, he added, the electricity crisis only came to exacerbate the sector’s woes, paralysing all departments and especially the intensive care unit, the oxygen-generating stations and nurseries.

“There are more than 25 injuries who need surgeries; there are wounded in intensive care departments in critical conditions, and there are children, women and the eldrly who are injured,” he told Al Jazeera on Sunday.

“The numbers indicate the excessive use of force in the Israeli bombing. There are injuries that require medical interventions from different specialities,” Abu Salmiya said, warning that the health sector faced “a real catastrophe” if Israel renewed its offensive.

“We are at a very critical stage.”

‘We are very tired’

In another room in Shifa, Suad al-Bis lies on her back. The five-year-old girl was wounded on Saturday when an Israeli strike hit an empty plot of land next to her family home in the Bedouin village of Beit Hanoon, known as Erez to Israelis, in the northern Gaza Strip.

“Because of [how heavy] the bombardment [was], my granddaughter fell on her stomach with such force that it directly affected her spleen,” said her grandmother, Suad, 56.

The girl was initially transferred to Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, before being taken to Shifa due to the complexity of her condition and the medical shortages there.

“The doctors reassured us that her condition is finally stable,” said the grandmother. “But there is still a concern that she will be able to eat and drink and will be kept under observation,” she added.

“The doctors here are doing everything they can to help the wounded, but the weakness of the capabilities and the pressure of the cases hinder them.”

“We are simple people; we were sitting in our homes safely, and [in] every war we are subjected to displacement and bombing. We are very tired.”

‘A death sentence for us’

The Israeli bombardment of Gaza was the worst since an 11-day war in May last year that killed more than 260 Palestinians and wounded some 2,000 others.

The latest onslaught began on Friday, when Israel launched what it said was a “preemptive” operation against Islamic Jihad. Palestinian observers said the attack was weeks in the making by the Israeli government, calling it a deliberate act to gain legitimacy ahead of new elections in November.

“It was a normal day when we had lunch, until we heard a huge explosion; then the walls of the house collapsed on us,” said Ahmed Abu Ramadan, the brother of Islam Abu Ramadan, who was wounded on Friday when Israel struck an apartment next to theirs in residential Palestine Tower in Gaza City.

“It was a very traumatic moment. I carried my sister, and I was screaming to save my father and mother,” recalled Ahmed, 23.

Islam sustained injuries to her hand, face and body. Her parents were also moderately injured and are still under medical care.

“Stopping medical services for the wounded in these circumstances is a death sentence for us and all the residents of the Gaza Strip,” Ahmed said.

“The situation is unbearable, and we are still in a very difficult psychological state. When will the world move to end the injustice against the people of the Gaza Strip?”

Source: Al Jazeera

at 10.30 pm yesterday casefire for Gaza. 44 killed (15 children among them) and 360wounded. 3 familes lost more then one child

the preventive attaks took am heavy toll on the whole population and amounts to collective punishment, a crime