Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Photo: Via Amnesty USA

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Thousands of Eritrean and Sudanese asylum-seekers are at risk of either being forced to go to Rwanda or Uganda, where their protection is not guaranteed, or being indefinitely detained in Israel. While some are already detained, the Israeli authorities have given others until early April to leave the country, or be detained.

In response to the news that at least 68 people, 66 men and two women, died in a fire at a police station jail in the northern state of Carabobo in Venezuela on 28 March, Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas director at Amnesty International said:

“This horrific and entirely avoidable tragedy is another sign of the Venezuelan authorities’ complete lack of concern for the human rights of people deprived of their liberty. The authorities must not only launch an impartial and independent investigation into the deaths to guarantee truth, justice and reparations for the victims and their families; they must also take immediate action to ensure that they treat all prisoners with dignity, respect and protect their human rights, and prevent events of this appalling nature from ever happening again.”

Israel’s policy of deporting African asylum-seekers to two unnamed African countries is an abdication of its responsibility to refugees and an example of the vicious political measures feeding the “global refugee crisis”, Amnesty International said today as the Israeli Supreme Court considers new evidence on the legality of the policy.  

Israel has allegedly reached agreements with two countries – widely understood to be Uganda and Rwanda. The terms of the agreements are classified.

Under the government’s new “Procedure for Deportation to Third Countries”, launched in January, those who agree to leave are given US$3,500 and a ticket to either their country of origin or an unnamed “third country”. Those who refuse face indefinite detention. The Israeli government claims the scheme facilitates “voluntary departures” of “infiltrators”. 

The Israeli authorities must immediately release Palestinian prisoner of conscience Munther Amira, whose arrest, continued detention and sentencing to six months in prison and five years’ probation for peacefully participating in protests is a blatant and appalling attempt to intimidate those who peacefully protest against Israel’s occupation, Amnesty International said today.

Munther Amira was sentenced to six months in prison by Ofer military court in the occupied West Bank today. He was convicted on four charges relating to his participation in demonstrations, including “participating in a march without a permit”, which is not a recognised criminal offence under international law.

“By sentencing Munther Amira to six months in prison for his peaceful participation in protests, the Israeli authorities continue to show contempt for their obligations to protect the rights of Palestinians living under their occupation. Munther Amira must be released immediately and unconditionally,” said Magdalena Mughrabi, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

The Israeli authorities must immediately release teenage activist Ahed Tamimi whose continued detention is a desperate attempt to intimidate Palestinian children who dare to stand up to repression by occupying forces, Amnesty International said.

Ahed Tamimi’s trial is due to start tomorrow in Ofer juvenile military court in the occupied West Bank. She faces 12 charges, including aggravated assault, after a video was posted on social media showing her shoving, slapping and kicking two Israeli soldiers in her village on 15 December.

“By refusing to release Ahed Tamimi since her arrest on 19 December, the Israeli authorities have shown nothing but contempt for their obligations under international law to protect children,” said Magdalena Mughrabi, Deputy Director for the Middle East and Africa.

“As an unarmed girl, Ahed posed no threat during the altercation with the two Israeli soldiers who were heavily armed and wearing protective clothing. Nothing she has done can justify her continued detention and the long, aggressive interrogation sessions she has been forced to endure during the first two weeks of her detention.”

Israeli authorities must release a 16-year-old Palestinian activist who could face up to 10 years in prison over an altercation with Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank last month, Amnesty International said as she appeared in court today.

Ahed Tamimi will go before Ofer military court in the occupied West Bank accused of aggravated assault and 11 other charges after a video showing her shoving, slapping and kicking two Israeli soldiers in her home village of Nabi Saleh on 15 December went viral on Facebook.

“Nothing that Ahed Tamimi has done can justify the continuing detention of a 16-year-old girl. The Israeli authorities must release her without delay. In capturing an unarmed teenage girl’s assault on two armed soldiers wearing protective gear, the footage of this incident shows that she posed no actual threat and that her punishment is blatantly disproportionate,” said Magdalena Mughrabi, Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.

50 YEARS OF OCCUPATION.

50 years of dispossession.

50 years of forced evictions, demolitions and forcible transfer.

50 years of arbitrary arrests, detention and unfair trials.

50 years of unlawful killings. 50 years of human rights violations and war crimes.

Join our campaign, marking the 50th anniversary of Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip; and call on Canada to prevent the import of settlement goods,  and to stop Canadian businesses from operating in, Israel’s illegal settlements.

Entire Palestinian communities have been displaced by these settlements. Their homes and livelihoods have been destroyed, they have had restrictions enforced on their movement, access to their own water, land or and other natural resources. The communities are frequently and violently attacked by the Israeli military and settlers.