In the night of July 2nd the Israeli army launched a large-scale offensive against the town of Jenin and its refugee camp – with a thousand soldiers and hundreds of military vehicles – accompanied by helicopter and drone attacks. The current toll is 10 killed and hundred injured. About 3000 people were evacuated but without any shelter. This is the largest operation in the West Bank in the last 20 years. At the same time, the soldiers are preventing medical aid. Journalists are directly targeted and denied access from entering the camp. Other massive war crimes are perpetrated in front of the world’s eyes.
Israeli propaganda, with great nonchalance, spoke of “action against terrorists and against Iran” and that Israel did not wish to “occupy” the city, even though Jenin, like East Jerusalem and all the Palestinian territories, has been under occupation since 1967. Faced with the endless violence of the occupation, the acceleration of colonisation and the theft of land, the regular military incursions, increasing settler violence, and the total absence of any protection for the population,- be it from the Palestinian Authority or the international community – more and more young Palestinians are choosing to defend their families and their neighbourhoods with weapons.
The inaction of international community in the face of 56 years-long brutal occupation is partly responsible for driving these young Palestinians into the armed resistance. However, let us be clear. A people under occupation has the right to resist occupation including armed struggle. It is high time for the international community to act, to stop its unwilling complicity. This incursion has nothing to do with “counterterrorism” or “security” as Israel’s deceptive rhetoric claims to justify the unjustifiable. Although Israel has a right to security as any other country, it is an absurd claim that the security of an occupying power with the mightiest army in the region is threatened by the people who resist the occupation with rudimentary means. Palestinians, too, have a right to security and protection. Especially as their lives are of little importance to the Israeli government that is openly racist and is implementing an apartheid policy. This bloody military offensive is likely to continue without the decisive action of the international community.
When the responsible authority not only fails to protect the civilians under its control but is also turning into the very perpetrator of grave crimes, international community has a responsibility to protect them.
We call on the EU, its member states and other European countries to:
- increase their diplomatic presence in Jenin urgently to show that the international community is watching,
- provide protection to Palestinians,
- put an end to the present massacre and prevent its announced development.
- use all leverage, including arms embargo and sanctions, to pressure the Israeli government to comply with the rules of law.
You have a responsibility to avoid another state crime like the unprecedentedly violent assault on the Jenin camp in April 2002.
We call on European citizens to contact their Ministers of Foreign Affairs and demand immediate action.
You can find a draft letter below:
RE: Jenin, Urgent need to act
Dear Minister of Foreign Affairs,
In the night of July 2nd the Israeli army launched a large-scale offensive against the town of Jenin and its refugee camp – with a thousand soldiers and hundreds of military vehicles – accompanied by helicopter and drone attacks. The current toll is 10 killed and hundred injured. About 3000 people were evacuated but without any shelter. This is the largest operation in the West Bank in the last 20 years. The soldiers are preventing medical aid. Journalists are directly targeted and denied Access from entering the camp. Other massive war crimes are perpetrated in front of the world’s eyes.
Faced with the endless violence of the occupation, the acceleration of colonisation and the theft of land, the regular military incursions, increasing settler violence, and the total absence of any protection for the population,- be it from the Palestinian Authority or the international community – more and more young Palestinians are choosing to defend their families and their neighbourhoods with weapons.
The inaction of international community in the face of 56 years-long brutal occupation is partly responsible for driving these young Palestinians into the armed resistance. It is high time for the international community to act, to stop its unwilling complicity. Although Israel has a right to security as any other country, it is an absurd claim that the occupying power with the mightiest army in the region is endangered by the people who resist the occupation with rudimentary means. Palestinians, too, have a right to security and protection. Especially as their lives are of little importance to the Israeli government that is openly racist and implement apartheid policy. This bloody military offensive is likely to continue without the decisive action of the international community.
When the responsible authority not only fails to protect the civilians under its control but is also turning into the very perpetrator of grave crimes, international community, including our country, has a responsibility to protect them.
We call on you to increase your diplomatic presence in Jenin urgently to show that the international community is watching, to provide protection to Palestinians, to put an end to the present massacre and prevent its announced development.
Please use all leverage at the national and the European level, including arms embargo and sanctions, to pressure the Israeli government to comply with the rules of law. You have a responsibility to avoid another state crime like the unprecedentedly violent assault on the Jenin camp in April 2002.