[Media-watch] Amnesty International: Call for independent investigation...

[Sigi D]

From : 	Amnesty International
<amnesty-news at topica.email-publisher.com>
Reply-To : 	<ai-news at amnesty.org>
Sent : 	21 May 2004 11:28:31
Subject : 	Israel: Call for independent investigation
into Rafah killings	
|	|	|	Inbox 

News Release Issued by the International Secretariat
of Amnesty International

AI INDEX: MDE 15/054/2004 21 May 2004 

Israel/Occupied Territories: Call for independent
investigation into Rafah
killings


Amnesty International urges the Israeli authorities to
promptly carry out a
thorough and independent investigation into the
killing of eight Palestinians,
four of them children, and the injury of dozens of
others by the Israeli army
during a demonstration in the southern Gaza Strip town
of Rafah, on 19 May 2004. 

Amnesty International delegates were in the vicinity
of the demonstration at the
time of the incident. They saw Israeli army
helicopters hovering over the area
where the demonstration was taking place, dropping
what appeared to be flares;
shortly after they heard several rounds of heavy
shelling. 

Demonstrators and eyewitnesses claim that the loss of
life and injuries were
caused by shelling from Israeli army helicopters and
tanks stationed nearby.
According to Israeli army officials, tanks shelled an
empty building in order to
deter the demonstrators from proceeding towards
Israeli army positions;they also
state that Israeli helicopters fired a missile at a
nearby open space.

The Israeli shelling hit a built-up area on Sea
Street, the main east-west road
in Rafah, where the Palestinian demonstrators were
walking. An Israeli army
aerial photograph published in the Israeli media shows
that the building at
which the tank shelling was aimed is located in a
built-up area on the street
where the demonstrators were marching. 

Israeli officials have alleged that the demonstrators
were led by gunmen. While
Amnesty International cannot confirm or deny the
presence of armed Palestinians
among the demonstrators, the organization's delegates
did not see any armed men
when they passed the demonstration prior to the
attack. In addition, they did
not hear any Palestinian fire prior to or following
the Israeli army shelling.
Furthermore, the footage from television crews who
filmed the demonstration
prior to, during and after the shelling, reviewed by
Amnesty International's
delegates, does not show armed individuals in the
demonstration.

Based on information available, Amnesty International
is concerned that the
means and methods used by the Israeli army during a
non-violent demonstration in
a built-up area, which resulted in the loss of life
and injuries to
Palestinians, were excessive and violated
international law. 

In light of a pattern of inadequate investigations or
lack of investigations
into unlawful killings and excessive use of force by
the Israeli security forces
resulting in death or injury to Palestinians, it is
imperative that a thorough
and independent investigation be promptly carried out
by the Israeli judicial
authorities. The scope, methods and findings of the
investigation must be made
public and those responsible for human rights
violations must be brought to
justice.


Stop destruction of homes and land by Israeli army.
Take action! Visit
http://amnesty-news.c.topica.com/maacgWOaa62mLbew2yLb/

Latest information on the crisis in Israel and the
Occupied Territories at
http://amnesty-news.c.topica.com/maacgWOaa62mMbew2yLb/

View all documents on Israel and the Occupied
Territories at
http://amnesty-news.c.topica.com/maacgWOaa62mNbew2yLb/



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